The National Finals Rodeo begins tonight in Las Vegas, Nev., with 14 Oklahoma cowboys and cowgirls competing for a world title.
The Oklahoman in the best position to bring home a world championship is bulldogger Stockton Graves from Newkirk.
Graves, who qualified for his fourth consecutive NFR, is third in the world standing heading into the NFR, less than $10,000 behind leader Luke Branquinho of Los Alamos, Calif.
The last time an Oklahoman won a world title in steer wrestling was 2003 when Teddy Johnson of Checotah captured the crown.
Another Oklahoma cowboy with a shot at a world title is Porum's Justin McDaniel, who just turned 21 in October.
It's McDaniel's first NFR and the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.
"I started riding when was age 4, dreaming of doing this,” he said.
Coming off an injury plagued 2006, it has been a breakout season for McDaniel, currently second in the world standings in bareback bronc riding.
McDaniel trails former world champion Bobby Mote of Culver, Ore., by almost $46,000. But each of the go-rounds in the NFR pays more than $16,000 to the winner, so McDaniel could overtake Mote with 10 good days in Las Vegas.
"It doesn't take long to catch up,” McDaniel said. "I've got as good as shot as anybody. I am just going to go try and win every round and let the rest take care of itself.”
McDaniel also rides bulls and is sixth in the all-around standings with earnings of $110,819.
He is followed by another Oklahoman, roper Blair Burk of Durant. Burk is seventh in the all-around race with $107,476.
However, Texas cowboy Trevor Brazile is essentially a lock to capture his fifth all-around title with season earnings of more than $285,000, more than $140,000 ahead of second-place Josh Peek of Pueblo, Colo.
Notebook
•Back in the saddle: Another former saddle bronc world champ, Billy Etbauer of Edmond, qualified for the NFR again this year but just barely, waiting until the last moment, the Dallas playoff, to earn a trip to Las Vegas.
But in doing so, the five-time saddle bronc riding world champion qualified for his 19th trip to the NFR, a record among bronc riders.
•Okies in the field: Four Oklahoma calf ropers qualified to the NFR, headed by
