As the 2026 regular season continues to wind down, the battle for the final NFR qualifying spots is becoming increasingly competitive. While much of the attention naturally falls on the top of the world standings, the races around No. 15 are worth watching just as closely. For these timed event athletes, a single strong payday could be enough to change their position and keep their NFR hopes alive.
With the final weeks of the regular season ahead, here's a look at the current bubble in steer wrestling, team roping, and tie-down roping.
Current Timed Event Standings:
Steer Wrestling
14. Dalton Massey – $93,368.89
15. Tyke Kipp – $92,373.90
16. Rowdy Parrott – $89,421.96
17. Will Lummus – $85,154.22
18. Eli Lord – $83,702.86
19. Cody Devers – $82,499.94
20. Scott Guenthner – $79,610.26
Dalton Massey currently holds the No. 14 position, while Tyke Kipp sits on the NFR cut line at No. 15 with $92,373.90. Rowdy Parrott is less than $3,000 behind Kipp, putting him within realistic striking distance of the final qualifying spot. Will Lummus and Eli Lord are also within range, while Cody Devers and Scott Guenthner will need bigger paydays to make up more ground.
Team Roping (Headers)
14. Riley Minor – $88,543.07
15. Ketch Kelton – $86,546.52
16. Brenten Hall – $84,068.77
17. Kavis Drake – $83,015.58
18. Clint Summers – $79,865.90
19. Cory Kidd – $78,613.50
20. Clay Smith – $78,153.05
The heading standings are especially tight around the cut line. Riley Minor has officially moved up to the No. 14 spot, while Ketch Kelton holds on to No. 15. Brenton Hall trails Kelton by around $2,500 and leads No. 17-ranked Kavis Drake by a little over $1,000.
Team Roping (Heelers)
14. Wyatt Cox – $92,693.21
15. Lane Mitchell – $91,207.22
16. JC Flake – $90,504.09
17. Trent Vaught – $89,515.13
18. Brady Minor – $88,543.08
19. Denim Ross – $83,015.58
20. Paden Bray – $81,601.09
The heelers are also facing a tight race. Lane Mitchell currently holds the final qualifying position, but JC Flake is less than $800 behind him. Trent Vaught and Brady Minor are within approximately $3,000 of No. 15, meaning the standings could change quickly with a few strong finishes.
Tie-Down Roping
14. Macon Murphy – $99,071.80
15. Buck Calhoun – $99,042.28
16. Beau Cooper – $97,735.08
17. Tom Crouse – $96,231.97
18. Cole Clemons – $91,358.88
19. Shad Mayfield – $90,156.43
20. Dylan Hancock – $89,798.29
In tie-down roping, Macon Murphy sits in the No. 14 position, leading Buck Calhoun by less than $30. Beau Cooper continues to close the gap at No. 16, trailing Calhoun by just over $1,300. Tom Crouse, Cole Clemons, and Shad Mayfield are also within striking distance.
With the regular season nearing its conclusion, the Top 15 positions are far from guaranteed. We have a feeling we’ll continue to see a lot more standings movement before October 1st rolls around, so stay tuned for the latest updates and standout stories from Rodeo Roundtable.