Franks is rolling in Las Vegas

By Ted Harbin, TwisTed Rodeo

LAS VEGAS – It may not have been the biggest payday of Cole Franks’ National Finals Rodeo run this week, but it may have been the biggest ride.

He rode Bailey Pro Rodeo’s Little Bug for 85 points to finish in a three-way tie for sixth place in Sunday’s fourth round, pocketing $1,811. More importantly, he holds a 3.5-point advantage over the field in the all-important aggregate race with a cumulative score of 342 points.

“It ain’t much, but it’s something,” said Franks, a three-time NFR qualifier from Clarendon, Texas. “Everything we do is for the average, especially right now. You can’t really play it safe, but you can’t take no for an answer.

“I just need to keep points on the board.”

He has earned $64,696 at this NFR and is eighth in the world standings with $204,253. After posting a high-scoring ride Saturday night on one of the rankest horses in ProRodeo, Franks found life a little easier on Little Bug. The Round 4 horses are called “hoppers,” which are the easiest to ride over this 10-day stretch. It was a day off considering he’d matched moves with an “eliminator” the night before.

“It’s more of a day off, really,” he said.

Franks has placed in four straight nights, the best start in his three times of competing on ProRodeo’s biggest stage. He has six more nights on the season to capitalize on being in Las Vegas this time of year, where the money is bigger than any other event on the planet. He’ll take his next step Monday night along with the other bareback riders as they try to match their skills against 15 of the most electric bucking horses in the sport.

Franks will be matched with Macza Pro Rodeo’s Stevie Knicks, which has been known to be part of many high-marked rides. Clayton Biglow was 90 points on the mare in 2022, and Jess Pope was 88.5 last year.

“You’ve just got to keep the momentum rolling going into (Monday),” Franks said. “The best horses in the world are out, so it’s good to have a lot of momentum rolling into them.”