CHEYENNE- Billy Etbauer is one of the most decorated cowboys in rodeo history.

He's made five National Finals Rodeo appearances and won nearly $3 million.

Etbauer's resume includes five saddle bronc riding national championships, but he had never won the Daddy of 'Em All - until Sunday.

The 46-year-old legendary bronc rider may have crossed the last major rodeo off of his to-do list, riding Painted Valley for 89 points and a gold buckle at the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo.

"I couldn't tell you how many years I've missed [Cheyenne], but I've been here give or take 20 times," Etbauer said. "I was close [to winning] quite a few times and ended up messed up and bucking off in the short round and falling a point or two shy.

"Cheyenne's always been very good to me, and it's always a kick to be here because it's really a cowboy's rodeo. So this is just a true blessing that it all worked out."

Etbauer needed every bit of his 89 points after Gillette's Chet Johnson put on a show four rides earlier.

Johnson rode Cat Power to 90 points, tying a Frontier Days arena record.

"I didn't see Chet's, I was just trying to get my horse ready," Etbauer said. "I wish I woulda seen it. But I just went jump for jump. If I had to ride again, I do it the same way."

Not surprisingly, Johnson came away all smiles.

The 28-year-old is rarely angered anyway, and tying the arena record had him elated.

"It's a good day," the saddle bronc reserve champion said. "[Tying the record] is an honor. Growing up in Wyoming, this is it. Watching this as a little kid to now and being able to hold the arena record - a guy never would've dreamed about it."

The day provided a bit of deja vu for Johnson, who made the whistle on Cat Power at the National Finals Rodeo in 2007.

The score was big that day, too, but he finished second to Etbauer.

"It's ironic," Johnson said. "He just keeps beating me. It's an honor just to compete with him so when he beats you, you're not even mad.

"It is so impressive for someone 46 years old to be able to ride bucking horses that great. Some people go older, but they don't do it like that."

The victory capped off an unusually long road trip for the bronc rider who beat plenty of cowboys half his age.

Etbauer estimated he traveled between 1,000 and 1,500 miles this week, making it the longest trip he's had in five years.

"I'm ready to go home," Etbauer said. "This is the [biggest] one that I hadn't won that I knew. I don't really know of another one [on that list], but every one that you can win, the better off you are. I need all the big ones I can get."

Sitting just outside the top 15 in the world rankings entering this week, Etbauer couldn't have been more clutch in winning the most elusive gold buckle of his career.

BANGED UP: The CFD opened on a scary note.

Bull rider Pat Geipel, the fourth cowboy out of the chutes, hit his head after being bucked off and was knocked unconscious in the arena.

Geipel was taken to the hospital for tests, but travelling partner Seth Glause said he was in good spirits a couple hours later.

It's been a tough couple weeks for that travelling crew.

On Thursday, Wheatland bull rider Tyler Willis was involved in an accident that left him with facial fractures.

And earlier this month, after winning the saddle bronc title in Casper, Glause tore the PCL in his left knee. The Rock Springs cowboy was sitting just outside the top 15 in bull riding, but will likely be out of the arena until November.

Contact sports reporter Eric Schmoldt at (307) 266-0578 or eric.schmoldt@trib.com.

CFD TRACKER

SUNDAY: The 131st Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo concluded with the championship round.

ADDING TO HISTORY: Five-time world saddle bronc riding champion Billy Etbauer finally won his first CFD gold buckle at the age of 46.

HE SAID IT: "It is so impressive for someone 46 years old to be able to ride bucking horses that great. Some people go older, but they don't do it like that." - Gillette bronc rider Chet Johnson.

CHAMPIONS: Steer roping: Scott Snedecor; Bareback riding: Will Lowe; Tie-down roping: Cody Ohl; Saddle bronc riding: Billy Etbauer; Team roping: Chad Masters and Jade Corkill; Rookie bronc: Wayne Kogianes; Senior steer roping: Mike Lohof; Steer wrestling: Jake Rinehart; Barrel racing: Tiffany Fox; Bull riding: Brad Pierce.