BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
When top-end team roping speed was needed in 2023, no one was better than Dustin Egusquiza.
The Florida native finished the year with more runs of 3.7 Seconds or Faster (6) and Go-Round Wins (20) than any other header. He was also second in 4.2 Second or Faster Runs (29) and tied for third in Average Time (6.93).
Egusquiza’s best career finish is No. 3 in the world in 2021 and in the 2023 season, he finds himself No. 4 in the PRCA World Standings, less than $25,000 behind World No. 1 Kaleb Driggers.
BIGGEST PAYDAYS
San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, $22,500
Timely runs were the story of San Antone for Egusquiza and partner Levi Lord. They only had a qualified times on 3-of-6 runs, but those runs were all 4.1 seconds or faster and all in rounds they needed to win to advance. In the Finals, they were two tenths better than Aaron Tsinigine/Ryan Motes and Nelson Wyatt/Justin Davis to snag $15,000 of that $22,000+ at the end of February.
San Angelo Cinch Chute Out, $7,500
Egusquiza/Lord were 4.2 seconds to secure their spot in the three-team Shootout and finished the job with a 4.0-second run in the winner-take-all Finals. They were the only pair of the three with a qualified time.
Reno Rodeo, $6,165
After a no time in Round 1, Egusquiza/Lord ensured their trip to Reno was worth it as they were 4.6 seconds to win Round 2.
FASTEST RUNS
Snake River Stampede (Idaho), 3.4 Seconds
It was this Round 2 win in late July, that would help Egusquiza jump to No. 1 in the PRCA World Standings to begin August.
Cache County Fair and Rodeo (Utah), 3.4 Seconds
Egusquiza held on to that No. 1 spot for a few weeks in August and during that stretch, he defended that ranking when he and Lord turned in their fastest time of the year to win the PRCA Playoff Series Rodeo in Logan, Utah.
Larimer County Fair and Rodeo (Colorado), 3.5 Seconds
The end of July and beginning of August were very good to Egusquiza. Sandwiched between his 3.4s on July 22 and Aug. 12, was a 3.5 to win the Larimer County Fair and Rodeo on Aug. 8.
NOTABLE WINS
Mandan Rodeo Days (North Dakota), 3.8 Seconds
One of two wins over Cowboy Christmas, this one came by one tenth over Brenten Hall/Paden Bray and paid more than $4,300 total. It was his first win in North Dakota since Killdeer in 2020.
Livingston Roundup Rodeo (Montana), 3.9 Seconds
What is better than one Cowboy Christmas win? Two of course! Egusquiza/Lord added $5,400 more to their name with the win in Montana. They weren’t done yet, either. On July 5, they claimed the Basin City Freedom Rodeo (Washington) to grab three wins that paid $4,000+ over the Fourth.
Meet the NFR Athletes is presented by Montana Silversmiths #EveryBuckleHasAStory #BrandOfChampions #FromGreatToGold
