Sage Kimzey of Strong City, Okla. gets upended by "Mortimer" after completing his bull ride during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
Hailey Kinsel of Cotulla, Texas (53) competes in the barrel racing event during the ninth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. Richard Brian Las Vegas Review-Journal
Ty Erickson of Helena, Mont. (59) competes in the steer wrestling event during the ninth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. Richard Brian Las Vegas Review-Journal
Eli Vastbinder of Union Grove, N.C. (105) takes a victory lap after taking the best score in the bull riding event during the ninth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. Richard Brian Las Vegas Review-Journal
Ty Erickson of Helena, Mont. (59) competes in the steer wrestling event during the ninth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. Richard Brian Las Vegas Review-Journal
Caleb Bennett of Tremonton, Utah (6) competes in the bareback riding event during the ninth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. Richard Brian Las Vegas Review-Journal
Eli Vastbinder of Union Grove, N.C. (105) reacts after competing in the bull riding event during the ninth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. Richard Brian Las Vegas Review-Journal
Eli Vastbinder of Union Grove, N.C. (105) competes in the bull riding event during the ninth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. Richard Brian Las Vegas Review-Journal
Eli Vastbinder of Union Grove, N.C. (105) competes in the bull riding event during the ninth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. Richard Brian Las Vegas Review-Journal
Hailey Kinsel of Cotulla, Texas (53) competes in the barrel racing event during the ninth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. Richard Brian Las Vegas Review-Journal
Hailey Kinsel of Cotulla, Texas (53) competes in the barrel racing event during the ninth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. Richard Brian Las Vegas Review-Journal
Sterling Smith of Stephenville, Texas (89) competes in the tie-down roping event during the ninth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. Richard Brian Las Vegas Review-Journal
Sterling Smith of Stephenville, Texas (89) competes in the tie-down roping event during the ninth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. Richard Brian Las Vegas Review-Journal
Zeke Thurston of Alberta, Canada (42) competes in the saddle bronc riding event during the ninth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. Richard Brian Las Vegas Review-Journal
Trevor Brazile of Decatur, Texas (2) competes in tie-down roping during the tenth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. (Caroline Brehman/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)
Trevor Brazile of Decatur, Texas (2) competes in tie-down roping during the tenth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Caroline Brehman/Las Vegas Review-Journal
Trevor Brazile of Decatur, Texas (2) tips his hat after competing in tie-down roping during the tenth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Caroline Brehman/Las Vegas Review-Journal
Sage Kimzey of Strong City, Okla. (3) holds his hand after falling off of "Joker" while competing Bull Riding during the seventh go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. Caroline Brehman/Las Vegas Review-Journal
Sage Kimzey of Strong City, Okla. (3) rides "Joker" while competing Bull Riding during the seventh go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. Caroline Brehman/Las Vegas Review-Journal
Sage Kimzey of Oklahoma takes part in the bull riding competition during the third go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018. Richard Brian Las Vegas Review-Journal @vegasphotograph
The National Finals Rodeo, the season-ending championship for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, will take place from Dec. 5 to 14 at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Each go-round runs from 6:45 to 9 p.m. All 10 go-rounds will be televised on CBS Sports Network and streamed on ProRodeoTV.com.
Championships are up for grabs in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping (headers and heelers), saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding. The top 15 contestants in each event, based on earnings during the regular season, qualify for the NFR.
An all-around champion also will be crowned.
Defending champions are Tim O’Connell, bareback riding; Tyler Waguespack, steer wrestling; Clay Smith (headers) and Paul Eaves (heelers), team roping; Wade Sundell, saddle bronc riding; Caleb Smidt, tie-down roping; Hailey Kinsel, barrel racing; and Sage Kimzey, bull riding. Trevor Brazile won his 14th all-around title.
The NFR has been in Las Vegas since 1985 and will remain in the city through at least the 2024 event.
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