LAS VEGAS – WNFR Round 3 – The stage wasn’t too big for team ropers – newcomer Tanner Tomlinson and world champion Patrick Smith Saturday night.
The duo clocked a Round 3 record 3.6-second time for the win at the 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge before 17,703 spectators at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Tomlinson, 22, is making his NFR debut, and Smith, 42, is returning for the 13th time and first since 2015.
“Yeah, it was awesome, the guys right before us (Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves) went 3.8,” Smith said. “There were a bunch of 4-second runs so it kind of takes the thinking out of it for us. All we know is we’ve gotta go fast.”
Smith has won world titles in 2005 and 2010.
Tomlinson acknowledged his history-making run was a blur.
“Oh, I have been really nervous the last couple of nights, since this is my first
time. It’s just happened so fast when I’m going after them, After Dustin went, I was just seeing blood.”