FORT MOHAVE, Ariz. – For the last two years, there has been one constant in Ty Wallace’s rodeo life – injuries. The Ardmore, Okla., bull rider qualified for the 2014-15 and 2017 Wrangler National Finals Rodeos. But shortly after the ’17 Finals, he broke his right leg. Then came broken ribs (2018), a broken right arm in Denver (2019) and a broken right foot in Casper, Wyo., in July.
“I took the rest of the year off after the Casper injury,” Wallace said. “I bought a place in Oklahoma, got down there and put my head to the grindstone. I didn’t really know what I was going to do. I was just sick of being hurt.” Fast-forward to the present, and Wallace is finally healthy, and it showed Feb. 29 at the Fort Mohave Classic Division 1 Xtreme Bulls.
Wallace won the two-head average with 182 points, notching two 90-point rides in one night for the first time. “I’m really excited about this win,” said Wallace, 26. “It feels good just to be healthy and get to go to the next one. It’s nice to get a win under my belt and feel good about the rest of the year. When you get a win like this it seems like you can keep your momentum going, and (Saturday) felt great. I’m better if I go to fewer rodeos and not get burned out.”
Wallace earned $13,244 in Fort Mohave. He moved up to 12th in the March 2 PRCA | RAM World Standings with $28,617. “A win like this sure helps a guy out,” Wallace said.
Wallace set the tone for his victory in the long round with a 90-point ride on Salt River Rodeo Company’s Rocky Road, a former Wrangler NFR bull.
“I had never ridden that bull before, but I had seen him a handful of times,” Wallace said. “He was right there around to the right and moving ahead a little bit. Everybody wants to get on him. That’s why we ride bulls to get on bulls like him.” Wallace’s short-round ride was even better, posting a 92-point ride on Honeycutt Rodeo’s Braggin Rights.
“That bull went to the Finals a couple of years ago, and I had not seen him in two years,” Wallace said. “When I saw that 92 points, it was a relief that I did my part, and I was glad it worked out that way for me. That bull was a little wild and big and had a lot of different stuff going on. To get by him gives a guy a lot of confidence.”
Wallace joins the 2020 Division 1 Xtreme Bulls winner’s list, which includes Dustin Boquet (SWELS – Xtreme Bulls in Fort Worth, Texas, Jan. 22) and Boudreaux Campbell (San Antonio, Feb. 22).
This is Wallace’s second career Division 1 Xtreme Bulls victory, his first coming in San Antonio in 2017. “This win (at Fort Mohave) seems more deserving,” Wallace said. “I’ve been really trying to do things right and work hard. It’s funny, if you work hard, karma comes around and you get rewarded.”