With the Wrangler Million Dollar ProRodeo Tour nearing an end it is time to lookforward to the Justin Boots Playoffs in Puyallup, Wash., and the Justin Boots Championships in Omaha, Neb. The Justin Boots Playoffs will take place September 10-12, while the Justin Boots Championships is September 23-25.

The Women's Professional Rodeo Association's barrel race will take on a little different format this year than in years past but the competition and excitement level will still keep fans on the edge of their seats.

In Puyallup, the top 24 ladies in the Tour standings following the final Gold Tour stop in Ellensburg, Wash., on Sept. 6 will qualify for the event. The ladies ranked 13-24 will compete in the first two performances on Sept. 10, while the top 12 will compete in the following two performances on Sept. 11. The top eight in the average will then advance to the Final round on Sept. 12 at 1 p.m. PT. Unlike in past years, there will not be a semifinal round for the barrel racers in Puyallup, which allows for more of the available prize money to be paid out in the two rounds and the finals. Money will not be paid for the average finish but will instead qualify the contestants into the Finals. The fastest run in the final round will be the winner of the event.

Money won in Puyallup will then be added to the Tour standings, which will determine the top 12 qualifiers for the Justin Boots Championships in Omaha, Neb. Again a format change from years past will be experienced by the competitors and fans due to the available prize money up for grabs at this event. In the past each competitor competed twice before the top eight qualified for the semifinals and then the top four in the finals. In 2010, each of the 12 competitors will compete just once before advancing to the final round. During the first performance on Sept. 23, only six barrel racers will compete, while the second performance will feature the remaining six competitors. Following the Friday night performance the top six times will advance to the Finals with the winning run taking the title.

"Recently we asked these committees to consider a different format, which would eliminate one competitive run, thus making the payoff per run more equitable for the contestants," said Kathi Myers, WPRA President. "Both the Puyallup committee, which hosts the Justin Boots Playoff and the Omaha committee, host for the Justin Boots Championships, agreed. Both committees realized the dilemma created by the lack of supplemental funding and the concern the WPRA had for its members and their horses. I cannot thank each of these committees enough for working with us in creating a competitive format that was workable for all. I am fully aware of the committees' concerns and issues for the performance production, as that is what they sell/advertise to their ticket buyers. However, giving the barrel racers the best opportunity to compete in a format that is equitable and best for their horses is equally as important. We are fortunate to have committees that also realize the benefit of supporting the competitors."

By changing the format the competitors and their horses are able to run for more of the available money each time they enter the arena. In Puyallup, the barrel racers will be competing for a total of $20,000. The first two rounds will have $5,000 each in prize money paid out to the top four times as follows - $2,000 for 1st; $1,500 for 2nd; $1,000 for 3rd and $500 for 4th. During the Finals a total of $10,000 will be paid out as follows - $4,000 for 1st; $3,000 for 2nd; $2,000 for 3rd and $1,000 for 4th.

In Omaha, the first round will pay out a total of $8,750 to the top six times, meaning everyone who qualifies for the finals will receive a check. The payout will be as follows - $3,000 for 1st; $2,000 for 2nd; $1,500 for 3rd; $1,000 for 4th; $750 for 5th and $500 for 6th. In the Finals the ladies will be running at $10,000 and an event title. The payout will be $5,000 for 1st; $2,750 for 2nd; $1,500 for 3rd and $750 for 4th.

Money won at both events will also count toward the individual's WPRA NFR Standings, which determines the top 15 qualifiers for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and eventually the 2010 WPRA World Champion Barrel Racer.

The final rounds of both Puyallup and Omaha will be televised originally on ESPN2 with re-airs on both ESPN2 and ESPN Classic. The Justin Boots Playoffs will be broadcast on Oct. 17 at 5 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2, with the Justin Boots Championships right after at 6 p.m. (ET) on Oct. 17.