–Barrel Racer Stephanie Fryar in Contention to Win The Final $1 Million Triple Crown of Rodeo —
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas –The World Champions Rodeo Alliance (WCRA) has announced the 63 athletes (seven athletes per discipline) who have qualified for the May 11 Showdown Round at the $550,000 Rodeo Corpus Christi. Barrel Racer Stephanie Fryar (Waco, Texas) approaches the intense battle to be crowned the final WCRA Triple Crown of Rodeo recipient and the opportunity to become the first female in rodeo history to become an overnight millionaire.
The Triple Crown of Rodeo is an annual bonus that will pay $1 million to any one athlete or collection of athletes who win first place in any three consecutive WCRA Major Rodeos. Fryar is the final contender for the Triple Crown of Rodeo program.
If Fryar wins at Rodeo Corpus Christi, after winning consecutive WCRA majors in October in Mill Springs, North Carolina, and in December in Guthrie, Oklahoma, she would be crowned the second and final champion of the coveted WCRA Triple Crown of Rodeo, presented by Lazy E Ranch and Arena.
The first and second-place athletes from Rodeo Corpus Christi (minus bull riding) will qualify for the 2024 WCRA Kid Rock N Roll Rodeo Team, “The Free Riders”.
Fryar is the fifth athlete (Riley Webb, Tacy Kay Webb, RC Landginham, Isaac Diaz) to be in contention for the Triple Crown of Rodeo; Landingham was the first and only victor of the bonus. His $1 million check in 2022 equaled his 14-year career earnings combined. Landingham has not ridden with WCRA since the landmark win due to recovering from an injury. Landingham will face-off in bareback riding between 2023 Rodeo Corpus Christi Champion Mason Clements (Spanish Fork, Utah).
Breakaway roping is highlighted by WCRA’s richest woman, Jackie Crawford (Stephenville, Texas), and 2x WCRA Champion Kelsie Domer (Stephenville, Texas). Two-time WCRA Champion and former Triple Crown of Rodeo contender Isaac Diaz headlines the saddle bronc riding while hometown Cowgirl Sissy Winn is matched up against Fryar.
Eighteen-year-old tie-down roper and WCRA Cowtown Christmas Championship reserve champion Pecos Tatum (Decatur, Texas) will challenge PRCA No. 22 ranked Trevor Hale (Perryton, Texa) in tie-down roping. The 12x WCRA Major Qualifier Bridger Anderson (Alva, Oklahoma) will go head-to-head against 2017 PRCA Wold Champion Tyler Pearson (Atoka, Oklahoma).
Please see the complete roster and results HERE.
The following athletes are coming into the Showdown Round leading the average after two Progressive Rounds:
| Discipline | Athlete |
| Bareback Riding | Mason Clements |
| Steer Wrestling | Bridger Anderson |
| Team Roping Heading | Jc Yeahquo |
| Team Roping Heeling | Buddy Hawkins |
| Saddle Bronc | Gus Gaillard |
| Breakaway Roping | Kieley Walz |
| Tie-Down | Glenn Jackson |
| Barrel Racing | Bayleigh Choate |
| Bull Riding | Clayton Sellars |
Barrel racers will advance directly to the Triple Crown of Rodeo Round, while the top three from all remaining disciplines will advance from the Showdown Round to the TCR round.
Fans can watch the historic event on PlutoTV (Ridepass), Cowboy Channel, and the Cowboy Channel+ App nightly on May 7-11 at 7 p.m. CST. Fans can tune into the Triple Crown of Rodeo Round of the Rodeo Corpus Christi on a CBS network broadcast June 2 at 11:30 CST.
Since launching in May 2018, the WCRA and its partners have awarded more than $17.6 Million in new money to rodeo athletes. All rodeo athletes interested in learning more about the WCRA or the VRQ should be directed to wcrarodeo.com.
