SAN ANGELO, Texas -- As July rolled into August last year, Joe Lufkin was among the top 15 saddle bronc riders in the game.

He just needed to sustain that position through the rest of the season, and he would have been bound for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. A groin injury he suffered the first week of August essentially put an end to his bid.

That's rodeo," Lufkin said Wednesday night, shortly after his 83-point ride catapulted him into the lead at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. "I sat out for 10 days, and the first rodeo back was in Caldwell, Idaho. I ended up winning the long round at Caldwell, and I tried to keep it going the rest of the year. I was right there on the bubble for making the NFR. I tried to see if I could tough it out. I finally just went home.

His bubble burst, but his confidence didn't. The case in point was Wednesday's ride aboard Pete Carr Pro Rodeo's Miss Congeniality, an athletic bay mare that has been selected to buck at the NFR three times.

"That's just a good horse that's been around for a while," said Lufkin, 24, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma. "She's good to get on, the kind of horse you like to get on."

It doesn't hurt that Lufkin is pretty good, too. Despite his injury last year, he still finished 20th in the world standings. He is a past Prairie Circuit champion and has finished among the top 25 each of the past two seasons.

"It's very important to do well in San Angelo," he said. "This run in the winter sets you up so you can have your money built up for your summer run. Without having that extra money, it can get a little lean when you're on the road through the summer as much as we are."

That money not only pays the bills and travel expenses, but dollars also equal championship points. The contestants in each event with the most money won at season's end will be crowned world champions. It's a dream for most that compete in the sport, and it's something Lufkin has been shooting for since he decided to do this for a living.

"It's always my goal to try to make the NFR," he said. "I try not to overthink it and get ahead of yourself, then just try the best you can."

He has taken it easy so far this year. San Angelo marked just the sixth time this season he's been on a horse. Lufkin wants to make sure that groin is healthy, and Wednesday's ride gave him a little more confidence.

He will now bring that attitude back to San Angelo Coliseum on Friday night for the championship round and the chance to walk away with this year's title.

"The crowd was big," Lufkin said. "San Angelo is always a nice plays for us to come. The crowd is always big and into it.

"My confidence is good. I always try to keep my confidence high, because rodeo is such a mental game. You have to stay on top of that."

Check out all of the San Angelo results here. 

By Ted Harbin

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