Fourth of July may have been days ago, but there were plenty of fireworks during Thursday’s final performance of the 2025 Rooftop Rodeo.

Eighteen-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier Lisa Lockhart provided the dramatic climax with a lightning-fast display and a firecracker run of 16.30 seconds to win the barrel racing title, pocketing $6,296 along the way.

“This is pretty exciting,” said Lockhart, a three-time NFR average champion from Oelrichs, South Dakota. “I hit a barrel here last year and on the same horse, so I was determined to go around the barrels. That was something I messaged to somebody today: ‘#GoAroundThem.’ ”

The Montana-born cowgirl can use those Estes Park earnings. She sits 19th in the world standings and has two and a half months left in the regular season to work her way into the top 15 in order to return to Las Vegas in December. In rodeo, dollars equal points, so only the top earners qualify for Pro Rodeo’s grand championship.

That’s something Lockhart knows well. Since 2007, she hasn’t missed an NFR. She took advantage of her rodeo schedule to give herself a better opportunity by competing in Estes Park.

“I think this is my third time, so it works out great going to Colorado Springs and coming from Calgary,” she said. “It’s a great rodeo; I absolutely love it and love being up here on the hill.“It’s been on my itinerary for the last couple of years.”

Bareback rider Kade Sonnier made the most of his trip up the mountain, riding Cervi Brothers’ Mood Swingss for 84 points to split the victory with fellow riggin’ rider Clay Stone. Both men pocketed $4,297. Of course, the added perk of Rooftop Rodeo increasing the local investment to $10,000 per event was part of the attraction, along with the beauty of Estes Park.

“Anymore during the summer, you try not to enter rodeos that add less than $10,000 (an event),” said Sonnier, a 2023 NFR qualifier who is 12th in the world standings. “The way I see it, I try to win $150,000 in a year, and if you do that, you’re pretty much going to guarantee your spot at the NFR.”

The finale, which takes place over 10 December nights in Las Vegas, features the biggest paydays in the game. There are no world championships without the NFR.

“The ultimate goal is that gold buckle at the end of the year,” said Sonnier, 25, of Carencro, Louisiana. “I fell short my rookie year and ended up third in the world. Last year, I got hurt and battled a hand injury all year.

“I’m finally healthy. I’m finally feeling great. I feel like I’m back on top of my game, smashing the buckers and dressing up the hoppers. That’s all you can really as for and just be ready for them to run more underneath me.”

Rooftop Rodeo results: July 5-10 All-around cowboy: Stetson Wright, $4,726, saddle bronc riding and bull riding.

Bareback riding: 1. (tie) Kade Sonnier, on The Cervi Brothers’ Mood Swingss, and Clay Stone, on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Blue Ridge Babe, 84 points, $4,297 each; 3. (tie) Roedy Farrell, Andy Gingerich and Darien Johnson, 80.5, $1,892 each; 6. (tie) Colt Eck and Gavin French, 80, $730 each; 8. Monte The3rd Downare, 78, $486.

Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Payden McIntyre, 4.2 seconds, $1,807; 2. Colt Honey, 4.6, $1,571; 3. Dirk Tavenner, 4.8, $1,335; 4. (tie) Hadley Jackson, Trisyn Kalawaia and Justin Shaffer, 4.9, $864 each; 7. (tie) Logan Kenline and Logan Wiseman, 5.2, $275 each. Second round: 1. Grant Peterson, 4.0 seconds, $1,807; 2. Trisyn Kalawaia, 4.3, $1,571; 3. Tucker Allen, 4.4, $1,335; 4. Colt Honey, 4.5, $1,100; 5. Nick Guy, 4.8, $864; 6. Jacob Wang, 4.9, $628; 7. Tyler Waguespack, 5.0, $393; 8. Marc Joiner, 5.1, $157. Average: 1. Colt Honey, 9.1 seconds on two head, $2,710; 2. Trisyn Kalawaia, 9.2, $2,357; 3. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Logan Kenline, 10.4, $1,826 each; 5. Nick Guy, 10.8, $1,296; 6. Logan Wiseman, 10.9, $943; 7. Laramie Warren, 11.8, $589; 8. Tucker Allen, 12.0, $236.

Team roping: 1. (tie) Mason Appleton/Rance Doyal, Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison and Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 4.1 seconds, $4,637 each; 4. (tie) Riley Kittle/Landen Glenn and Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 4.2, $3,304 each; 6. (tie) Clay Smith/Nicky Northcott and Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 4.3, $2,609 each; 8. Jake Clay/Tanner Braden, 4.4, $2,087; 9. Chad Masters/Cory Petska, 4.5, $1,739; 10. Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, 4.6, $1,391; 11. Cody Lane/Dusty Taylor, 4.7, $1,217; 12. Cash Duty/Trae Smith, 4.8, $1,043; 13. (tie) Laramie Allen/Kelby Frizzell, Riley Minor/Brady Minor and Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 4.9, $522 each.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ryder Wright, 87 points on The Cervi Brothers’ Promiscuous Girl, $4,991; 2. Shea Fournier, 85, $3,827; 3. Statler Wright, 84.5, $2,828; 4. Gus Gaillard, 84, $1,830; 5. Mitchell Story, 83.5, $1,165; 6. Ryder Sanford, 82.5, $832; 7. Easton West, 82, $666; 8. Riggin Smith, 81, $499.

Tie-down roping: 1. Trevor Hale, 8.2 seconds, $4,759; 2. (tie) Brodey Clemons and Shad Mayfield, 8.3, $3,966 each; 4. (tie) Paden Bray and Riley Pruitt, 8.5, $3,014 each; 6. John Douch, 8.6, $2,538; 7. (tie) Carter Anderson and Sam Lewis, 8.7, $2,062 each; 9. Marcos Costa, 8.9, $1,586; 10. Tyson Durfey, 9.0, $1,269; 11. Roan Hudson, 9.1, $1,110; 12. Kyan Wilhite, 9.2, $952; 13. (tie) Hunter Reaume and Cole Tierney, 9.3, $555 each; 15. Cory Bomhoff, 9.4, $317.

Barrel racing: 1. Lisa Lockhart, 16.30 seconds, $6,296; 2. Paige Jones, 16.37, $5,037; 3. (tie) Keyla Costa and Austyn Tobey, 16.42, $3,620 each; 5. McKenna Coronado, 16.43, $2,518; 6. Kylie Wells, 16.48, $1,889; 7. Tana Renick, 16.50, $1,574; 8. (tie) Katie Halbert and Millie Marquart, 16.53, $1,338 each; 10. Jordon Briggs, 16.60, $1,102; 11. Dina Allred, 16.63, $944; 12. Karson Bradley Berger, 16.64, $787; 13. Madison McCaffity, 16.66, $630; 14. Andrea Busby, 16.68, $472; 15. Gracen Harman, 16.71, $315.

Bull riding: 1. Stetson Dell Wright, 91 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Dialed In, $5,626; 2. Canyon Bass, 90.5, $3,773; 3. Cade Griego, 87, $3,978; 4. (tie) Trevor Reiste and Brady Turgeon, 86.5, $1,568 each; 6. (tie) Kahiwa Augustiro and Kane Taylor, 84, $859 each; 8. Sage Vance, 82, $1,173.