The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association is pleased to announce the formation of the All American ProRodeo Series, which in 2010 will include more than 450 rodeos from coast to coast. Every PRCA rodeo with total added money of $30,000 or less is automatically included in the series.
“The Heartland Series was a great start, and this new series, which is an expansion of that concept, is a chance to take it up another notch by including the majority of our rodeos in an exciting new series that will lead to its own championship,” said PRCA Commissioner Karl Stressman. “The All American ProRodeo Series gives contestants throughout America the chance to win their way to a major championship event and compete for more than half a million dollars.”
The All American ProRodeo Series will culminate with the All American ProRodeo Championships, which are slated for October 7-16, 2010 in Waco, Texas. The top 30 series contestants in each event—bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping (30 headers and 30 heelers), saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping and bull riding—based on total points earned at a minimum of 30 All American ProRodeo Series events will qualify for the All American ProRodeo Championships. Contestants earn a point for every dollar won at series rodeos, and also receive 50 bonus points per series rodeo where they compete.
PRCA contestants who qualify for the All American ProRodeo Championships will run at more than $500,000, including $300,000 in money added by the PRCA and $150,000 added by the Heart O’ Texas Fair and Rodeo host committee. The $250 entry fee paid by each of the 210 PRCA contestants who qualify to compete in Waco will add another $52,500 to the half-million-dollar-plus mix.
“This expansion of the Heartland Series gives more contestants the opportunity to get qualified to come to Waco to compete for the big money,” said President and CEO of the Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo Wes Allison. “The Heartland Series has been successful in another goal of helping PRCA rodeo committees put on better rodeos because they have full performances. This series gives every contestant in the PRCA a chance to qualify for Waco, and by giving contestants across the country more opportunities to compete at participating rodeos, there’s no reason entries shouldn’t continue to rise.”
Money won at the All American ProRodeo Championships in Waco will count toward qualifying for limited-entry rodeos the following season, but will not count toward the PRCA world standings or Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualification. Additional dollars put up by committees to make the team roping purse equal for headers and heelers will not be included in their $30,000 added-money total, or keep them from participating in this series.
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