Published: February 11, 2009 11:16 am      

Asher man finishes 4th in Fort Worth

FORT WORTH, Texas – In his nine years as a pro, Cody Whitney has been among the greatest bull riders in the game.

Still, he’s never qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

That may change this year if the Asher, Okla., cowboy stays hot. This past weekend, he put the wraps on an excellent finish at the Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo.

“When you ride bulls, you always want to do big at events like Fort Worth,” said Whitney, 27, a six-time finalist in the Professional Bull Riders organization. “This is a big deal for me.”

Whitney won the first round with an 89-point ride on Rafter G Rodeo’s Big. His second-round 86 was good enough for third-place money. He also finished fourth in the average, accumulating $11,930. That moved his season earnings total to $13,432, good enough for seventh place in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Though known for his place in the PBR, Whitney rides bulls for a living. To open 2009, he won the Championship Bull Riding title in Biloxi, Miss., and was named the CBR’s King of the Month. He is also fourth in the CBR world standings.

Whitney is also coming off the CBR World Championships for the 2008 season, which took place last month in Las Vegas.

Now he’d like to return to Sin City multiple times per year, since it is home to the PBR finals, the Wrangler NFR and the CBR finale. The biggest money in each association is doled out in the Nevada desert.

“I love what I do, and to get a chance to ride in these big events is what it’s all about,” Whitney said.