“The windshield is a lot bigger than the rearview mirror”

By Patrick Everson

The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo isn’t an altogether new experience for Jess Pope. In fact, the bareback bronc rider made a huge impression in his first Wrangler NFR last year. Pope cashed in six go-rounds, including a win in Round 8, to win the average, pocketing more than $170,000 over the course of 10 days.

That gave Pope $220,029 in total 2020 earnings, good for a solid third-place finish in the bareback world rankings.

But there was one thing missing in his 2020 season-capping run: Las Vegas. Due to pandemic restrictions, the NFR had to take a one-year leave of its longtime home, moving to suburban Dallas.

This year, it didn’t take long for Pope and Las Vegas to exchange pleasantries. On Thursday night, Pope posted a 90.5 score aboard Night Crawler to earn the first go-round win in the first event of the Wrangler NFR’s return to Vegas.

And it was definitely much different than Dallas.

“Yeah, there’s a difference. The electricity and the rush. When you come to Las Vegas, you think of money and winning,” Pope said. He certainly did that by collecting a $26,997 check for the go-round win, and he’s now No. 5 in the world standings at $147,021 – a little more than a go-round win behind first-place Tilden Hooper ($176,306).

“That’s really big,” Pope said of getting the first go-round buckle of the 2021 NFR. “I’m excited to be here. It’s a great experience. It’s what you dream of as a little kid. And this is something you remember for the rest of your life.”

Not that Pope will just sit back after his opening-round victory. The youngster is nothing if not prescient, knowing there are nine more nights of rodeo, each requiring the same kind of focus and attention to detail that Pope displayed Thursday night.

“The windshield is a lot bigger than the rearview mirror,” Pope said. “That win builds your confidence a lot, but once tonight’s done, it’s over with. My job’s to ride bucking horses, and that’s what I showed up to do. This is our Super Bowl. This is where we make our money. My goal is to take it one horse at a time and win every night.”

And soak in that Las Vegas experience that he missed out on in his first Wrangler NFR.

“I think I like the Vegas feel,” Pope said with a laugh. “I liked it before I came in. I like it a little more now, I do believe.”

Indeed. A $27,000 check will do that to you.