2019 The American

The Gunslinger's Out--Who Will Take His Spot At The American?

The Gunslinger's Out--Who Will Take His Spot At The American?

This year, the speed king Marty Yates will not be competing in the arena that fit his “gun slinging” style so well.

Mar 2, 2019
Yates Breaks The American Arena Record Again

For two years in a row, Marty Yates has set–and broken–RFD-TV’s The American tie-down roping arena record at AT&T Stadium. This year, the speed king will not be competing in the arena that fit his “gun slinging” style so well.

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Yates did not finish out the PRCA season within the top 10 in the world so he was forced to qualify for the semifinals and battle it out amongst the hundreds of others that wanted their hands on the million dollar opportunity. We tracked Yates’ progress as he qualified for the semifinals with both runs, and was able to move on to the shootout with one of those calls.

Yates Gets Through American Qualifiers

The shootout round the next day wouldn’t go his way, however, so that gun slinging style will be missed at AT&T in 2019. Which raises the question: who will take his place as the fastest tie-down roper of the event? 

When looking down the list of tie-down ropers that have both qualified and have been invited to compete, there are several that can–and have–gone under the seven-second mark in their careers. 

Tie Down Roping:




TV #Contestant NameDrawTime
1Rhen Richard

2Jake Pratt

3Shane Hanchey

4Reese Riemer

5Ryle Smith

6Seth Cooke

7

Bobby Abernathy



8Monty Lewis  B

9Haven Meged

10Riley Pruitt

11Ty Harris    B

12Matt Shiozawa

13Tyson Durfey

14Trevor Brazile

15Tuf Cooper

16Caleb Smidt


The 6.38-second mark will be one that is hard to beat, but if we had to put our money down, we’d say this pen has some titans that can approach, if not beat that time.