Decatur's Trevor Brazile eclipsed the PRCA all-time earnings record last night at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. Brazile and partner Patrick Smith won their second consecutive team roping national championship, and with it checks worth $16,394.

The talented Wise County cowboy raised the PRCA's all-time money earnings - which he set last season - a bit higher in the process. Brazile, who also is competing in the tie-down roping, rushed past his previous record total of $329,924 from a year ago with the team roping win, finishing the night with $342,263 on the season with five rounds to go.

Brazile's confidence is growing with each passing round.

"We work at it together as a team," Brazile said. "This is the first time I've had a partner that I enjoy roping with this much, and we've been putting the time in practicing. We got off to a little bit of a rocky start, but I knew with the preparation we've done to make this a great National Finals for us, it would all work out in the end."

Smith is excited about his and Brazile's third-place standing in the PRCA World Standings.

"I'm not going to lie and say it's not in the back of my mind," Smith, of Midland, said of winning a gold buckle. "But you can really get caught up in that and start watching guys you're competing against for that world championship and try to make things happen instead of sticking to your plan. I'm just going to try to win the most I can on each steer and let them do the math at the end."

Brazile's all-around money total is more than double that of second-place Josh Peek at $170,598, but Peek still has a small mathematical chance to overtake Brazile in the all-around race.

Peek, of Pueblo, Colo., would need to win every remaining round in the steer wrestling and tie-down roping and a considerable amount in the average payouts as well to achieve that feat. His $56,851 earned so far at this year's Wrangler NFR is impressive, especially considering that Brazile is not 100 percent physically.

"I've got a herniated disk in my back bulging against my nerves there, and it's pretty painful," Brazile said. "It doesn't affect me much in the team roping, just once I get off my horse in the tie-down roping, I'm not as good as I should be."

Decatur's Clint Cooper and Brazile competed in tie-down roping last night and both finished in the top 12 for the day. Brazile was 10th with a time of 9.8 seconds which put him 12th in average time through five rounds at 53.5.

Cooper, who had a spectacular finish this year to qualify for the PRCA finals, is doing well. He was 12th for the night at 11.6 seconds and sits fourth in the overall avergage at 49.9. He trails leader Cody Ohl of Hico at 41.8.

The Messenger's Joe Duty is in Las Vegas for the finals and posting pictures daily of both Trevor and Clint at http://www.wcmessenger.com

Some information in this story was provided by the PRCA.