SPANISH FORK, Utah – After getting a taste of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo last year, bull rider Eli Vastbinder wants nothing more than to make a return trip.

The Statesville, N.C., cowboy, who was 25th in the July 16 PRCA | RAM World Standings, received a big jolt toward going back to Las Vegas by capturing the title at the Spanish Fork Fiesta Days Xtreme Bulls Division 1 event Saturday night. This was the first time Spanish Fork hosted a Division 1 Xtreme Bulls event.

Vastbinder won the title with his 89.5-point ride on Powder River Rodeo's Struttin Stuff.

The draw couldn’t have been any better for Vastbinder.

“My family raised that bull and now H.D. (Page) hauls him,” said Vastbinder, 28. “I was the first guy to ever get on him (the bull) as a calf. It was really cool that we raised the bull, he was born at my father-in-law’s place. When the bull was 3 years old, we sold him to H.D. That bull never gets ridden. He’s a tricky bull that is hard to ride. No one really wants to draw him. So, to get him ridden and winning first with us raising him was a cool deal. I love coming to Utah rodeos, and to win the first Division 1 event in Spanish Fork made things even better.”





What was even cooler for Vastbinder was that he earned $8,724 for his eight-second performance and first career Xtreme Bulls Division 1 victory.

“I rode him (Struttin Stuff) one time in the practice pen when he was just a calf,” Vastbinder said. “He was about 1,000 pounds lighter and about four years younger. He was a totally different bull back then. Tonight, the bull was tough and really bucked through it hard. He turned back into my hand. He’s unpredictable. He just went around to the right, and he got to moving forward and everything worked out.”

Vastbinder edged J.T. Moore and Brennon Eldred, who tied for second with 89-point rides.

“I was happy when I saw my score, and I was just tickled to ride him,” Vastbinder said. “I waited it out and won, which was cool.”

Vastbinder joins the other winners on the Xtreme Bulls Division 1 circuit this season – Dallee Mason (won in Fort Worth, Texas), Trey Benton III (San Antonio), Tristan Mize (Fort Mohave, Ariz.), Trevor Reiste (Del Rio, Texas) and Sage Kimzey (Reno, Nev.).

“To get a paycheck like I did for my win was great, and any time you can ride a bull like that it is even better,” Vastbinder said. “This was a big win for me, and it was definitely needed. Hopefully it is the first of many.”

Vastbinder made his Wrangler NFR debut last season, He finished ninth in the world standings with $173,371. He earned $78,256 at the Finals and placed 10th in the average. His first trip to Vegas was highlighted by winning Rounds 5 and 9.

“I feel like I’m on my way to get back to the NFR,” Vastbinder said. “I don’t have time to celebrate. I have to keep after it because there are more rodeos to go to.”

For more coverage of the Division 1 Xtreme Bulls event in Spanish Fork, Utah, check out the Aug. 2 issue of ProRodeo Sports News.