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Sam Petersen jumped Jess Pope in the NFR Average about a minute before Rocker Steiner climbed aboard Calgary Stampede’s Disco Party and suddenly Steiner needed a check to win the World Title.

He delivered with a 90.5-point ride, the best ride of his NFR career, and stood in the arena arms out taking in the moment as tears started to slowly roll down his face. This was the moment he’d be destined for since he was a teenager, joining his father Sid and grandfather Bobby as PRCA World Champions.

He finished with a record $507,532.59 to set a new single season earnings record.

“I wanted my family to know their son was the best at something,” Steiner said. “I just want my family to know they had a son who worked as hard as possibly he could and never gave up, I think I finally gave it to ‘em.”

Steiner entered the National Finals Rodeo as the man to beat as he entered with a regular season record $303,547. After missing out on a check in Round 1 in Las Vegas, he put it into high gear, winning Rounds 2 and 5 and also placing in Rounds 3 and 4.

Steiner, known for his outgoing and sometimes wild, took a noticeably more muted approach at the midway point in the National Finals.

“I knew what I wanted, but I didn’t know exactly how to get there…I think this is the first year that I know how to get there,” he said after Round 5. “I do go out and have fun, but I turn it in a little bit earlier and I get focused because my great grandfather didn’t get to see my dad win the World, and I’m going to make sure my grandad gets to see me win my World Title.”

By Round 5, his lead in the PRCA World Standings had swelled from $82,000 to $114,000, but things began to change rather quickly in Round 7.

In Rounds 7 and 8, Steiner tumbled from No. 3 in the Average down to No. 8. All the while, 2023 World Champion Jess Pope won both Go-Rounds and rose to the lead in the Average as well. That put him $4,000 ahead of Steiner in the Projected World Standings with two rounds to go.

“It felt like it was 2024 all over again,” Steiner said. “I just started to go back and close my eyes and think about how I felt in the 10th Round last year and how much I would’ve wanted an 11th horse.”

Rocker bounced right back in Round 9, however. He was 85.75 points on Kristen Vold’s Cafe Risque to split second in the round and add $25,431 to his total, he also moved up three spots in the Average in the process as well, which put him in the driver’s seat heading into Round 10.

“I don’t think any dreams about winning the World in the Sixth Round, the dream is the 10th Round and that’s exactly what happened, I couldn’t have planned it any better,” he said. “This is perfect.”

Steiner won 15 rodeos during the regular season, including the Governor’s Cup and Houston. He won $203,985 at the NFR and finished fifth in the Average.