Steer wrestler Tucker Allen told himself after a second-place finish in Houston in 2024 that if he ever made it back to the Shootout there, he was going to capitalize.

Luckily, the Californian did not have to wait very long.

Allen was second in his Super Series but after stumbling in Semifinal 1, he had to do it the hard way – through the Wild Card. In the due or die situation, he turned in 5.2-second run, which was followed by a 4.6 in the Championship Round and a 4.2 in the Shootout, his fastest of seven runs in RodeoHouston. And fast enough to pay him $65,000.

“It for sure made it more rewarding because the Wild Card is a win or go home situation and to be able to win that felt like a big weight off our backs,” Allen said.

The success inside NRG Stadium did not come easy. His first year competing there he was nervous and broke the barrier on all three runs. He has since settled in and learned to love the pressure, a trait on display in the Wild Card Round.

With Houston being a difficult start and having hard ground, Allen was focused on getting good head catches and having a wide base, balance and foot work are especially important at this rodeo.

“I kind of just dumbed it down,” Allen said of his winning run. “I told myself, practice pen run, just like at the house.”

The 25-year-old now has $91,468 on the season, according to Monday’s PRCA World Standings, more than twice as much as the world No. 2, Houston runner-up Holden Myers, who has $44,370. This season, only five steer wrestlers have surpassed $30,000.

“This is by far the most money I’ve ever had this year but it doesn’t change my season plans,” he said. “Gonna go to all 80 rodeos and win as much as I can.”