Even before the horses were saddled in June, Lisa Warfield knew she was going to be in Kalispell during the last week of October.

Warfield planned to be there for business as the barrel racing director for the Northern Women’s Rodeo Association.

But she wanted additional reasons to be at Majestic Valley Arena.

“I was going to the Finals as a director already. I would like to go back as a competitor,” said the Helena cowgirl of her early 2025 hopes. “The first goal was just to get back there.”

Done.

Warfield qualified the 50th Annual NRA Finals presented by nuWest Builders, Oct. 30-Nov. 1.

The NRA Finals presented by nuWest Builders features the top 10 competitors in each event and will determine the 2025 year-end champions.

And she doesn’t even have to saddle her horses.

After a rough start – tipped barrels in Big Timber and broken trailer axle enroute to Polson the last weekend of June – Warfield put together one of the most dominating barrel racing summers in NWRA history, which dates back to 1960.

Warfield is the 2025 barrel racing champion without turning a pattern at the NRA Finals.

She also won the title in 2024.

“Surreal,” Warfield said.

She earned 16 checks competing on horses Friday Nite Headline and Wiki. Warfield placed first at seven rodeos and second at five others. Warfield also had third place, two sixth places and an eighth among her money won.

When the dust settled after her win at the Mountain Health Co-op Tour finale in Helmville, Warfield had shattered the single-season earnings record with $14,306 won.

“The NRA, what a great year,” she said. “I was confident whatever horse I got on I knew I would win or place.”

Her season turned during the Fourth of July run after the difficult start.  “I was glad June was over,” said the horse trainer with a laugh. “The Fourth of July was adjustments week. We had to decide who was going to run where,” Warfield explained.

Friday Nite Headline is an eight-year-old sorrel gelding. Wiki, Hawaiian for Fast, is a 10-year-old sorrel mare. The two horses are full siblings.

Warfield plans to ride Friday Nite Headline during the Finals.

“We picked and chose where Friday ran last year to build up his confidence,” she said of the 2024 Bill Parker Barrel Racing Horse of the Year. “He didn’t let me down at all this year. He knew what he was capable of.

“Friday loves attention. He knows he is the king. He knows his status on the trailer.”

A third place at Harlowton ignited her season. During one stretch, she and her horses strung together consecutive victories at Malta, Havre and Shelby.

“We had luck at rodeos where we didn’t have luck before,” said Warfield.

And with the flurry of checks came other changes.

“By the end of July, I had won as much as last season,” she said. “During the summer I changed my goals … chance to repeat, defending my title, set the earnings record …I  wanted to challenge all that. We were chasing and we were getting close.”

Done, done and done.

“The NRA has a great payout,” Warfield said. “The support of the NRA is incredible.”

One goal remains.

“Win the average,” stated Warfield. “That would be pretty dang cool.”

Last year, she missed the NRA Finals average title by one-hundredth of a second to Celie Rogers of Choteau.

But Warfield knows the average crown will be no easy task.

“This could be the toughest Finals yet,” she said. “All the racers are bad cats. It’s great group of horses.”

The 10-racer field includes the top five finishers from 2024, including Charlo’s Abby Knight, the 2021 champion. Ashley Schad of Whitefish, Pray’s Milee Dailey, Brooklin Baukol of Clyde Park and Knight were multiple winners this year.

“Bad cats,” Warfield emphasized.

The newest title will also bring a change in the home décor and possibly family plans.

Warfield is now one up on husband James who won the NRA bull riding championship in 2008.

James Warfield, who fought off Stage 3 colon cancer in 2019, is talking comeback.

“He has said that so many times. ‘We have to go to the Finals together,’ ” said the barrel racer with another laugh.

Currently their NRA championship saddles are stacked atop one another on a stand in their living room.

“We have to build another saddle rack,” said the newest champion.