Clint Cannon won the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s bareback riding championship just two years ago.

It helped him to the best regular season of any contestant, and he set a PRCA record for most regular-season money won in any event with $233,504. He knows the importance of that RodeoHouston title.

Through Super Series IV’s two go-rounds, the Waller, Texas, cowboy has already secured his spot in next week’s semifinals, winning the opening go-round Thursday night, then splitting the second-round victory on Friday. In two days, he’s pocketed $3,500, but he’s just $1,250 ahead of the No. 2 man, Dusty LaValley, with whom Cannon shared Friday’s victory.

Bull riders Allen Helmuth and Bobby Welsh traded places. After Helmuth won Thursday, followed by Welsh, who won Friday. Both cowboys have earned $3,000.

Other leaders heading into Saturday’s final round of the series are barrel racer Angie Meadors, $2,500; tie-down roper Houston Hutto, $2,500; saddle bronc rider Rusty Allen, $2,500; team ropers Austin Adams/Steve Purcella and Brandon/Mike Beers, $2,000 each man; and steer wrestlers Lee Graves, Hunter Cure and Jack Vander Lans, $2,000 each.

There is still a lot of room available for someone to sneak up the standings and into a spot in the next round.