Kevin Poteete, of Texas, and Luke Atchison, of Texas, made a last-minute decision to enter the #12.5 Key Card Advantage World Series Qualifier — and turned it into a 28.51 on four head and a $46,200 win at the 2026 Cinch USTRC National Finals.
For Poteete, 48, and Atchison, 22, the win wasn’t even part of the plan.
“We weren’t even entered, and he wasn’t going to rope,” Poteete said. “I called Luke about 30 minutes before the books closed and told him, ‘You are now.’”
That quick call paid off.
The pair strung together runs of 7.76, 6.93, 6.49 and 7.33 to get the win.
“The steers were good,” Poteete said. “I made it hard on my partner… I just get excited and blank out.”
Atchison kept it simple on the heel side.
“I hadn’t been roping very good this week yet, so I was just trying to catch,” Atchison said.
Both ropers pointed to their horsepower as a big part of the win.
Poteete rode “Mo,” a 16-year-old gelding he’s had for several years.
“He’s a winner,” Poteete said, holding back emotion. “I got him from my best friend. I wish he could have been here with us to see this win. This means so much to win on this horse.”
Atchison, who spends most of his time on futurity rope horses, rode his 13-year-old mare “Kitty,” with High Brow Cat blood on the bottom side.
In the end, a last-minute decision turned into an emotional big win — and a trip to the Ariat World Series Finale. Sometimes, the wins mean so much more than the money.
READ: Ryder Squared: Young Guns Ryder Volf, Ryder Davis Win #13.5 Succeed Shootout at Cinch USTRC Finals
We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Privacy Policy · Your Privacy Choices
