Two Barrel Racing Champions Share Joy, Amazement About PRCA World Titles & NFR Experiences

Via the Gold Buckle Buzz series, writer Brian Hurlburt takes us into the hearts and minds of the PRCA World Champions who clinched titles during the 2024 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo®. As part of 40^thAnniversary Las Vegas NFR celebrations, several 1985 PRCA and WPRA World Champions are part of the 2025 series.

Charmayne James and Kassie Mowry clinched WPRCA Barrel Racing world titles 39 years apart, but after a promotional Wrangler NFR media day in June at the world-famous South Point Resort, Casino & Spa, the two have formed a deeper bond.

The event was held to lay the foundation for celebrations to be held Dec. 4-13, 2025, which will commemorate the 40^th anniversary of the NFR in Fabulous Las Vegas.

James and Mowry both won their first world titles in Las Vegas at the Thomas & Mack Center. James feels many emotions when she reflects upon that first world title, which she won when she was only 14. James went on to win 10 world titles.

“I just think about how appreciative we are—and were–of Las Vegas to take on the cowboys and to help grow the rodeo,” James said. “A lot of people were disappointed to see it leave Oklahoma City, but Las Vegas rolled out the red carpet and worked on building it. Looking back at it 40 years later, it is amazing what they have done and how people here love the rodeo now as compared to then. I know that when I came here, I was just like, ‘Wow!’ I was just a kid, 14 years old, from Clayton, New Mexico, a little town. I was in awe of being here. Las Vegas set the bar higher and it grew into such a bigger stage.”

Mowry clinched the 2024 championship on her final run to take down 4-time world champion Hailey Kinsel. Mowry’s excellence on her horse, Force the Goodbye, also powered her to the RAM Top Gun Award awarded to the top earner during the NFR. She collected $295,249 over the 10 nights to finish the season with $457,809.

Mowry was in awe of getting to spend a couple days with James and the other NFR legends during the NFR promotional event. Previous world champions didn’t have that chance.

“What an incredible opportunity and I feel the prestige around me,” Mowry said. “All I can think about is the history in this room. Getting to rub shoulders with Charmayne James is an incredible experience. It puts things into perspective. I didn’t know they don’t invite the legends back each year like this, so this is an honor to be a part of this. It makes it that much more special.”

The 2024 world title capped an extremely challenging and devastating year for Mowry, who lost her fiancé in a truck accident in June. Perseverance and faith allowed her to move forward with the support of loved ones.

The NFR qualification eased some of her pain, but a world title still seemed unrealistic when she hit Las Vegas. Mowry entered the NFR fourth in the world standings, about $42,000 behind Kinsel.

“Winning the world title took me by surprise, so it took a while to sink in,” Mowry said. “It is something I will never forget. There were so many people behind me and so much happening behind the scenes. In a way, I felt like it was all out of my control. Things were just happening and the year was such a challenge. I kept telling myself, ‘just let it happen and let it roll.’ It was amazing how it all worked out.”

As James reflected upon 1985 and the early days of the NFR in Vegas, she admitted that she and her fellow champions didn’t comprehend the impact they were making. James is a member of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and was part of the first class of Las Vegas NFR icons who earned banners in the Thomas & Mack Center rafters. Ty Murray and Trevor Brazile were also part of the 2022 class of Las Vegas NFR Icons.

“I didn’t know that I was making history back then because I just took the runs one at a time,” James said. “Over time, the wins and world titles started compiling and adding up. Our number one goal was to keep Scamper healthy and do everything for his longevity. We never dreamed it would be 10 years. Sometimes, there is maybe something else out there, whether it’s fate or angels following you or whatever power it is. Sometimes I think, ‘why didn’t someone else get lucky and get that opportunity?’ I know I was good, but there were a lot of good people out there who never won gold buckles.”

James enjoyed being back in Las Vegas, and the media event evoked memories.

“It’s fun to see our old buddies,” James said. “I feel like the guys looked out after me and it is good to see some of them again. It’s sad that (the late) Lewis Feild isn’t here because he was a good friend, but to see everybody and get to know the new world champions is very special.”

Mowry is already looking ahead to the official 40^th anniversary celebrations in December, and promised that they will live up to what Las Vegas is all about on and off the dirt.“Everything out here is over the top and exciting, so I am expecting the NFR in December to be like that and probably even more,” Mowry said. “The NFR and Las Vegas go hand in hand. Everybody loves the atmosphere and it’s always a big party. It’s the perfect place.”