We may just be a few days in to 2018, but we’re already well in to the 2018 rodeo season with over 30 rodeo events in the books. Competitors are rising to the top of the standings early in the season.

Two reigning world champions are already back at the top of the leaderboard for 2018. Marcos Costa, the first tie-down roping world champion to hail from Brazil, is already leading the way in the tie-down roping with $16,784.68, and four-time consecutive world champion bull rider Sage Kimzey has earned $29,344.83 to lead the bull riding.

Bareback rider Bill Tutor sits atop the standings in his event with $19,663.35 in 2018 earnings. The Huntsville, Texas, cowboy missed the NFR in 2016 by just one spot in the standings, before coming back to qualify for his first NFR last year.

It appears he’s got the bug and wasting no time on his hunt for his second qualification to rodeo’s pinnacle event.

Canadian high-point champion Curtis Cassidy leads the way in the steer wrestling standings with $18,141.83. Cassidy has had a successful CPRA and PRCA career with 33 CFR qualifications (steer wrestling and tie-down roping) and five NFR qualifications.

Clay Smith and Paul Eaves teamed up in 2015 and have been a winning combination ever since; Eaves has now made six consecutive NFR qualifications, and Smith has qualified each year since the two got together. 2018 is looking like another great year with $20,763.02 each to lead the team roping standings.

The 2015 world champion saddle bronc rider Jacobs Crawley has also been off to a good start in the 2018 rodeo season with the most money won in his event at $19,214.78. Looking over to the WPRA standings, barrel racer Taci Bettis of Round Top, Texas, has had a strong showing with $24,061.66 in the bank and leading the way.