Junior Nogueira is coming into the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo as the number-one heeler in the PRCA world standings, roping again this year with Kaleb Driggers. This will mark his sixth appearance in the Thomas & Mack since his explosion onto the US roping scene from Brazil, complete with that infamous pull back. Some things have changed since that first year—he’s is a newlywed, on the brink of fatherhood and his English is pretty flawless. But his giddy personality, his priority of family over all else and his hunt for a heeling gold buckle have remained constant.

We sat down just two days before the start of Round 1, immediately after he and the rest of the ropers got to run through the Hill Rodeo Cattle steers in the arena. Here’s Junior Nogueira on this special edition of The Score, brought to you by CSI Saddle Pads.

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