Price, Riemer split million-dollar bonus at second American

ARLINGTON, TEXAS.; March 1, 2015 – A young relatively unknown pair of cowboys – a bareback bronc rider and tie-down roper – bested the world’s top-ranked athletes on March 1 to split more than $1 million at RFD-TV’s The American, presented by Polaris Ranger.

“Words can’t express what this can do for my life,” said 24-year-old Reese Riemer of Stinnett, Texas, who tied his calf in 7.25 seconds to edge three-time world champion Tuf Cooper. “When I threw my hands up and looked at the clock – I’ll remember that moment the rest of my life.”

After nearly doubling in size in just its sophomore year, RFD-TV’s The American attracted a crowd of 42,563 into AT&T Stadium despite a winter ice storm, and again offered the most money ever paid at a rodeo in one day. The payoff includes a $1 million bonus to any “underdog” who can out-ride or rope the top 10 rodeo athletes in the world.

Earlier in the evening, Taylor Price of Huntsville, Texas, had scored 89 points on Frontier Rodeo’s bronc Show Stomper to defeat a bareback riding field that included defending world champion Austin Foss. Riemer and Price had paid a $500 fee and advanced through The American Semi-Finals for the chance to compete against the sport’s elite. Other event champions each earned $100,000, with runners-up taking home $25,000.

“They just keep raising the bar,” said roping superstar Trevor Brazile, who repeated as RFD-TV’s The American all-around champion. “I can’t wait to see what’s around the corner next. For Reese to have won $600,000 in one day, that just provides endless opportunities.”

Price and Riemer each earned $600,000 plus nearly $50,000 in prizes that included a new Polaris Ranger. The rodeo also paid out $500,000 through its semi-finals and a week earlier and raised another half-million dollars via an innovative new sponsor auction.

Following are official results from RFD-TV’s The American, presented by Polaris Ranger.

Bareback Riding: Preliminary Round: 1. Taylor Price, Huntsville, Texas, 89 points; 2. Jake Vold, Ponoka, Alberta, 87.5; 3. Brian Bain, Powell Butte, Ore., 86.25; 4. Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore., 87.75. Final Round: 1. Taylor Price, Huntsville, Texas, 89 points on Frontier’s Show Stomper, $100,000 plus $500,000 bonus; 2. Jake Vold, Ponoka, Alberta, 87.5, $25,000.

Team Roping: Preliminary Round: 1. Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla., and Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 4.06 seconds. 2. Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, Ariz., and Junior Nogueira, Scottsdale, Ariz., 4.19. 3. Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga., and Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 4.36. 4. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas and Patrick Smith, Lipan, Tex., 4.38. Final Round: 1. Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga., and Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 4.52 seconds, $100,000; 2. Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, Ariz., and Junior Nogueira, Scottsdale, Ariz., 5.11, $25,000.

Steer Wrestling: Preliminary Round: 1. Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 4.08 seconds; 2. K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas, 4.1; 3. Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., 4.24. 4. Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala., 4.47. Final Round: 1. K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas, 4.19 seconds, $100,000; 2. Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., 4.19, $25,000 (tie-breaker determined by aggregate on two).

Saddle Bronc Riding: Preliminary Round: 1. Wade Sundell, Coleman, Okla., 87.8 points; 2. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 87.8; 3. Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah, 87.3; 4. Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn., 86.3; Final Round: 1. Wade Sundell, Coleman, Okla., 90.75 points on Frontier’s Medicine Woman, $100,000; 2. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 87.25, $25,000.

Tie Down Roping: Preliminary Round: 1. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 6.98 seconds; 2. Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas, 7.12; 3. Reese Riemer, Stinnett, Texas, 7.25; 4. Cole Bailey, Okmulgee, Okla., 7.3. Final Round: 1. Reese Riemer, Stinnett, Texas, 7.59 seconds, $100,000 plus $500,000 bonus; 2. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 8.38, $25,000.

Barrel Racing: Preliminary Round: 1. Michele McLeod, Whitesboro, Texas, 14.632 seconds; 2. Sharin Hall, Kingston, Okla., 14.644; 3. Kassidy Dennison, Tohatchi, N.M., 14.695; 4. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 14.819. Final Round: 1. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 14.726, $100,000; 2. Kassidy Dennison, Tohatchi, N.M., 14.979, $25,000.

Bull Riding: Preliminary Round: 1. J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas, 90.5 points; 2. Jason Malone, Pleasonton, Texas, 85; 3. Cody Nance, Paris, Tenn., 83.75; 4. Silvano Alves, Pilar Do Sul, Brazil, 0.Final Round: 1. Silvano Alves, Pilar Do Sul, Brazil, 88.25 points on Gene Owen’s Raven Flyer, $100,000 [no other rides].