LAS VEGAS - Texas bull rider J.W. Harris wrapped up his third straight world title Friday night with a second-place finish in the ninth round of the National Finals Rodeo.
Harris had an 89.5-point ride on Insaniac, his seventh successful ride - two more than any other cowboy - in the first nine rounds. He has earned $194,287 this season and has clinched the NFR aggregate championship.
The first bull rider to win three straight world championships since Don Gay (1979-81), Harris broke B.J. Schumacher's NFR earnings record of $142,644 set in 2006.
Wesley Silcox of Santaquin, Utah, won the round with a 90 on Playmate.
In barrel racing, Sherry Cervi, of Marana, won the season title by finishing fourth in a time of 13.75 seconds. The three-time world champion has earned $263,457 this season and has mathematically eliminated second-place Lindsay Sears of Nanton, Alberta, second with $178,391.
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"This is the third horse that I've done it on," Cervi said. "Hawk and Troubles got me to where I am at, but Stingray's right there with them. It's definitely a dream come true. It's something you dream about as a little girl."
Cervi, who became the first barrel racer to reach $2 million in PRCA career earnings during the sixth round, is second in the NFR aggregate standings behind leader Jill Moody of Letcher, S.D., who placed second in 13.64 in the round. Angie Meadors of Blanchard, Okla., won the ninth round in 13.59.
With one round left, both Moody, with an overall time of 124.41 over nine rounds, and Cervi, at 124.43, are in position to challenge Charmayne James' NFR aggregate record of 138.93 set in 1986.
In tie-down roping, two-time world champion Trevor Brazile of Decatur, Texas, placed second in 7.2 behind Ryan Jarrett of Summerville, Ga. Jarrett won in 7.1.
Seven-time world champ Fred Whitfield of Hockley, Texas, who didn't place among the top six with a 17.1, fell to third in the aggregate race with a combined time of 83.6. Shane Hanchey of Sulphur, La., tops the standings at 79.0, and Brazile is next at 79.5.
Whitfield needs $35,110 to join Brazile and Billy Etbauer as the sport's only $3 million cowboys.In team roping, world standings header leader Clay Tryan of Billings, Mont., and heeler leader Travis Graves of Jay, Okla., won the round in 4.2 seconds.
In steer wrestling, 2006 world champion Dean Gorsuch of Gering, Neb., took over the aggregate standings lead when he tied for first with Curtis Cassidy of Donalda, Alberta, at 3.6 seconds.
In bareback riding, Kelly Timberman of Mills, Wyo., won with a score of 86.5 on Bar Bandit and remained in the thick of the aggregate title hunt.
In saddle bronc riding, Cort Scheer of Elsmere, Neb., won his first NFR round with an 85.5 on Let 'Er Rip.
