Every December, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas decides who gets to be called a PRCA world champion. Ten rounds at the Thomas & Mack Center can completely rewrite the standings and turn regular-season leaders into NFR winners – or send a dark horse home with a gold buckle.
This guide gives you a quick look at the latest NFR winners (2024), explains how PRCA and WPRA world titles are decided, and highlights some of the most dominant NFR champions of all time.
How NFR Winners & PRCA World Champions Are Decided
At the end of the rodeo season, the PRCA and WPRA crown world champions in each event based on:
- Total season earnings (regular season money + NFR money), not just who wins the last night in Las Vegas.
- Ten NFR rounds in Las Vegas, where contestants can win money each night and in the overall “average” (best total on 10 head or 10 runs).
Each event effectively has two big titles:
- NFR Average Winner – best total score or time over all 10 rounds.
- PRCA / WPRA World Champion – highest total season earnings after the Finals (this is what most fans mean by “NFR champion”).
The All-Around World Champion is the cowboy who wins the most money in two or more events over the entire season, a title considered one of the most prestigious in rodeo.
2024 NFR World Champions (Heading Into NFR 2025)
Here are the most recent NFR world champions, crowned at the 2024 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. These are the reigning champs every contender is chasing going into NFR 2025.
| Category | 2024 World Champion |
|---|---|
| All-Around | Shad Mayfield |
| Bareback Riding | Dean Thompson |
| Steer Wrestling | J.D. Struxness |
| Team Roping – Header | Tyler Wade |
| Team Roping – Heeler | Wesley Thorp |
| Saddle Bronc Riding | Ryder Wright |
| Tie-Down Roping | Riley Webb |
| Barrel Racing | Kassie Mowry |
| Bull Riding | Josh Frost |
These 2024 winners carry their gold buckles into NFR 2025 as the defending world champions. The race resets when the new regular season begins, but the Finals in Las Vegas still decide everything.
Recent NFR Winners (2019–2023): Changing of the Guard
The last few years have been dominated by a handful of superstars – especially in the all-around, barrel racing and bull riding races.
All-Around Champions
- 2024 – Shad Mayfield: Tie-down star who added the all-around title with a clutch NFR performance.
- 2019–2023 – Stetson Wright: Won five straight all-around gold buckles, changing the modern roughstock era.
Barrel Racing Standouts
- Hailey Kinsel: Four-time world champion barrel racer (2018, 2019, 2020, 2022) known for dominating the NFR with her mare “Sister.”
- Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi & Kassie Mowry: Continued the tradition of Texas barrel racing powerhouses with world titles of their own.
Bull Riding Powerhouses
- Sage Kimzey: Seven-time PRCA bull riding world champion, one of the most successful bull riders in PRCA history.
- Ky Hamilton & Josh Frost: New-school stars who added world titles as Kimzey shifted his focus toward PBR competition.
Together, these names make up the core of the NFR winners that fans have followed closely heading into NFR 2025.
All-Time NFR Champions & Records
Trevor Brazile – The “King of the Cowboys”
Trevor Brazile holds the record for the most PRCA world championships of all time with 26 total world titles, including a staggering 14 all-around championships. He set a standard in tie-down roping, team roping and steer roping that today’s timed-event cowboys still chase.
- 26 PRCA world championships (record)
- 14 All-Around gold buckles
- Multiple titles in tie-down roping, team roping and steer roping
Stetson Wright – The Modern Roughstock Star
Stetson Wright exploded onto the PRCA scene in 2019 and quickly stacked up multiple world titles in both all-around, saddle bronc and bull riding. Before injury sidelined him for NFR 2024, he had already collected five all-around titles and several roughstock championships, making him one of the most versatile champions in NFR history.
Hailey Kinsel – Barrel Racing Domination
Hailey Kinsel is one of the most dominant barrel racers ever at the NFR, winning four world titles and an NFR average crown. With her legendary horse “Sister,” she routinely shattered arena records and reshaped what fans expect from a barrel racing run in Las Vegas.
Other Multi-Time NFR Champions
- Sage Kimzey – seven PRCA bull riding world championships.
- Zeke Thurston – multiple saddle bronc titles and NFR wins.
- Tyler Waguespack – multi-time steer wrestling world champion.
- Kaleb Driggers & Junior Nogueira – repeat world champions in team roping.
These athletes help define what “NFR champion” really means – consistent excellence over full seasons plus big performances under the bright lights in Las Vegas.
Why NFR Winners Matter for Fans
Knowing the current and past NFR winners can make watching NFR 2025 a lot more fun:
- You’ll recognize defending champions when they’re introduced at the Thomas & Mack Center.
- You can track storylines, like whether a cowboy is chasing his first world title or adding to an already-historic total.
- You’ll understand why some matchups (like a reigning champion vs. a rookie) feel so intense.
As NFR 2025 approaches, expect to see the names above at or near the top of the standings again – and watch for new contenders looking to join the list of NFR world champions.
FAQ: NFR Winners & Champions
Who are the current NFR world champions?
The most recent world champions are the 2024 NFR winners, led by All-Around champion Shad Mayfield. Event titles went to Dean Thompson (bareback), J.D. Struxness (steer wrestling), Tyler Wade & Wesley Thorp (team roping), Ryder Wright (saddle bronc), Riley Webb (tie-down roping), Kassie Mowry (barrel racing) and Josh Frost (bull riding).
What is the difference between an NFR winner and a PRCA world champion?
In most events, the term “NFR winner” usually refers to the world champion decided at the end of the NFR based on total season earnings. The NFR average winner is the contestant with the best combined score or time over all 10 rounds, which can be a different person from the world champion.
Who has the most world titles in PRCA history?
Trevor Brazile holds the record with 26 PRCA world championships, including 14 all-around titles. Many fans and analysts consider him the greatest all-around cowboy in rodeo history.
Who are the top NFR barrel racing champions?
Hailey Kinsel leads the modern era with four barrel racing world titles and multiple NFR records. Other recent champions include Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi and Kassie Mowry, who all challenge for the top spot every December in Las Vegas.
Where can I find a complete list of past NFR winners?
For a full historical list by year and event, check the official NFR Experience “Past Winners” page and the PRCA World Champions records. Those sites maintain the most accurate and up-to-date champion lists.