OMAHA, Neb. - With 13 National Finals Rodeo appearances and more than $2 million in career earnings, Blair Burk has made a lot of big-time throws.

On the bubble for making it 14 times to the NFR in Las Vegas, Burk came through with a clutch performance in the tie-down roping of the Justin Boot Championships Thursday night.

Burk ripped off a time of 7.1 seconds to win the first round and more importantly, pocket $5,807.

The money won lifted Burk from a precarious 15th in the world standings to a more comfortable 10th.

The top 15 in the world standings qualify for the NFR this December.

"That's as big a throw as I've ever made, outside Las Vegas,'' said the 36-year-old cowboy. "Tonight, I was roping for a chance to go back to Las Vegas.''

The tie-down roping field included reigning world all-around champion Trevor Brazile and Cody Ohl, a five-time world champion in tie-down roping.

The Justin Boot Championships continue through Saturday. With $800,000 to be paid out, the rodeo will have a major impact on the world standings.

The 2009 regular season ends Wednesday.

Clay Tryan of Billings moved into the top 15 of the world standings by placing fifth in the team roping with partner Cory Petska. Tryan and Petska each earned $1,211. Tryan came to Omaha 16th in the team roping heading standings and is now 14th.

Burk has been fueled all year by a little extra incentive. After 13 consecutive NFR qualifications, he missed last year, finishing 18th in the 2008 standings.

"I had a couple of minor injuries,'' said Burk of last year. "I had a wrist problem and let it linger on during last summer. I missed Omaha and the NFR for the first time in my career.

"If you want to make the NFR, you need to be at these rodeos, where the big money is.''

The Justin Boots Championships features the top 12 in each event from the Wrangler Tour. Tonight will be another full round of competition with the top eight in the average advancing to Saturday's semifinals. The top four then advance to the final round. The first two round scores are erased for the semifinals and finals with the final round determining the champion.

A few more good throws could lift Burk all the way into the top five of the world standings.

"Missing last year was tough, after going 13 straight years," Burk said. "When I called back home (after the win) my little girl (Teely) said, "Just three more and we're going to Las Vegas daddy.' "

In other events:

• J.W. Harris won the bull riding with a with a 90-point ride on Aches and Pains. The money won helped the May, Texas, cowboy pad his already sizable lead in the standings. Harris came to the Qwest Center with $190,629 won. Second is Douglas Duncan, of Alvin, Texas, with $114,067. Duncan did not qualify for Omaha. "I want to keep them as far away from me as I can,'' said Harris, the 2008 world champion. "I just try to ride my bull. It's all clicking for me now.''

• Other event winners were: Will Lowe, bareback; Lee Graves, steer wrestling; Brazile and Patrick Smith, team roping; Cody DeMoss, saddle bronc; Lindsay Sears, barrel racing.
  Travis Tryan of Billings and Michael Jones placed third in the team roping with a time of 5.0 seconds for $3,167. Jesse Kruse of Great Falls, who leads the world saddle bronc standings, opened with a 73-point ride. Bobby Welsh, of Gillette, Wyo., tied for third in bull riding with an 82-point ride.