CLAREMORE, Okla. – Bull rider Trevor Kastner has almost clinched his third straight qualification to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Kastner, 25, of Ardmore, Okla., scored an 85-point ride on Sunday night on the Carr Pro Rodeo bull Fletch to win the Will Rogers Stampede, adding $1,740 and bringing his 2013 earnings to nearly $44,000; it’s not even June, when the summer run begins in ProRodeo and features numerous opportunities to add to those dollars.

“A month ago it was pretty slow,” said Kastner, the No. 3 bull rider in the world standings. “The past two weeks have been pretty good.”

Yes they have. Last week Kastner won the Elks Helldorado Days Rodeo in downtown Las Vegas and finished second at the Wrangler Champions Challenge in Redding, Calif. On Sunday, he matched his skills against a seasoned bull.

“I’d seen him quite a bit, but I’d never been on him,” Kastner said. “He’s usually a pretty good bull, and it turned out that way tonight. He’s just a little bit sluggish and built uphill, so he makes a guy have to try a little bit more.”

Besides competing at the NFR, Kastner is also a qualifier to the Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, featuring the top 12 contestants from the Oklahoma-Kansas-Nebraska region. He joined tie-down roper Cole Wilson of Kincaid, Kan., as Prairie Circuit finalists who found their way to the winner’s circle on the final night of Claremore’s rodeo.

“It couldn’t have come at a better time,” said Wilson, who shared the calf roping title with Oklahoman Trent Creager; both cowboys roped and tied their calves in 8.6 seconds and earned $1,506 each. “I have a house payment and a truck payment, and we’re entered up for the rest of the week so this is going to soften the blow to the bank for sure.”

It marked the first time the 23-year-old Kansan had cashed a check from Claremore.

“I like to come to Claremore every year,” Wilson said. “It’s usually got pretty good odds and some pretty good calves, and the pay is pretty good, too.

“My blue horse is back this year. He’s been hurt all last summer and all winter. It gives you a little confidence heading into the summer.”

Claremore, Okla.
May 24-26
Results
Bareback riding: 1. Bill Tutor, 85 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Jacket, $1,270; 2. (tie) Jared Smith and Tim O’Connell, 83, $827 each; 4. Caine Riddle, 81, $462; 5. Justin McDaniel and Kyle Brennecke, 80, $231 each.

Steer wrestling: 1. Shane Henderson, 4.2 seconds, $1,939; 2. Matt Reeves, 4.7, $1,686; 3. Royce Johnson, 4.9, $1,433; 4. (tie) Tooter Silver, Teddy Johnson and Jason Thomas, 5.3, $927 each; 7. (tie) Alan Frierson, Ryan Swayze and Tommy Cook, 5.4, $197 each.

Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Trent Creager and Cole Wilson, 8.6 seconds, $1,506; 3. Derrick Traylor, 9.2, 1,191; 3. Jared Kempker, 9.5, $981; 5. Jarod Branch, 9.7, $771; Tyler Garten, 9.8, $561; 7. (tie) Blake Deckard and Jerome Schneeberger, 9.9, $245 each.

Saddle bronc riding 1. Wade Sundell, 83 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Social Call, $1,254; 2. Ty Atchison, 82, $950; 3. Curtis Garton, 80; 4. Cody Hamm, 456; 5. (tie) Lance Wilson, Joseph Dean Lufkin and Cody Anthony, 78, $152 each.

Team roping: 1. A.J. Horton/Kyle Horton, 4.8 seconds, $1,994; 2. Drew Gartner/Tim Franzen, 4.9, $1,734; 3. Coleman Proctor/Jett Hillman, 5.2, $1,474; 4. Andrew Ward/Reagan Ward, 5.4, $1,214; 5. Troy Boone/Tad Sheets, 5.7, $954; 6. (tie) Joe Macoubrie/Dawson McMaster and Mike Bacon/Joseph Harrison, 5.8, $563; 8. Casey Hicks/Cody Heflin, 5.9, $173.

Steer roping: First round: 1. J. Paul Williams, 10.6 seconds, $888; 2. Joe Wells, 10.7, $735; 3. Jay Sellers, 10.8, $582; 4. Trevor Brazile, 11.4, $429; 5. J.P. Wickett, 12.2, $276; 6. Chuck Thomson, 12.8, $153. Second round 1. Bryce Davis, 9.8 seconds, $888; 2. J. Tom Fisher, 11.3, $735; 3. Landon McClaugherty, 12.7, $582; 4. Rocky Patterson, 13.6, $429; 5. Vin Fisher Jr., 13.7, $276; 6. Pecos Bill McNiel, 13.8, $153. Third round leaders: 1. Trevor Brazile, 9.7 seconds, $888; 2. Cody Lee, 10.8, $735, 3. Jake DeGeer, 11.0, $582; 4. Chuck Thomson, 11.2, $429; 5. Chet Herren, 11.6, $276; 6. Vin Fisher Jr., 12.7, $153. Average leaders: 1. Jay Sellers and Vin Fisher Jr., 39.3 seconds on three runs, $1,217 each; 3. Cody Lee, 41.2, $873; 4. (tie) Rocky Patterson and J.P. Wickett, 43.2, $528; 6. C.A. Lauer, 45.7, $230.

Barrel racing: 1. Christy Loflin, 16.99 seconds, $1,912; 2. Carlee Pierce, 17;05, $1,639; 3. Cheyenne Kelly, 17.27, $1,367; 4. (tie) Shelley Morgan and Gretchen Benbenek, 17.41, $1,047; 6. Sandi Brandi, 17.42, $728; 7. Alexia Mehrle, 17.49, $546; 8. Sally Young, 17.50, $364; 9. $273; 10. (tie) Jessi Eagleberger and Michele McLeod, 17.53, $91 each.

Bull riding: 1. Trevor Kastner, 84 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Fletch, $1,740; 2. Trey Benton III, 82, $1,318; 3. (tie) Shawn Hogg and Bart Miller, 80, $791 each; 5. Guthrie Murray, 79, $369; 6. Dylan Werner, 71, $264.