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The crowd around the roping boxes at the nation's rodeos is becoming nervous these days.

Cody Ohl, the six-time world champion tie-down roper, has been rejoined by his horse Luke, and that means the competition has stiffened considerably.

It appears the Hico, Texas, cowboy is launching a run that has the makings of last year's charge, which culminated with a world championship.

He got back aboard Luke at the start of the Fourth of July run at Pecos, Texas. Luke had been sidelined for six months because of a partial tear in his suspensory ligament near his hoof capsule. Ohl used a number of horses in the meantime, including fellow roper Neal Fenton's horse Shilo during the major winter events.

Since teaming with Luke to win Pecos, Ohl has been winning championships again, earning close to $27,000 in three weeks. Last weekend he cashed in with titles at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo in Colorado Springs, Colo., and Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo in Vernal, Utah.

"I have had a good three weeks, and my goal has been to win about $10,000 each week. I think with the win here, I accomplished that this week," Ohl said after his Colorado Springs title.

Ohl is in fourth place in the world standings, more than $13,000 behind leader Trevor Brazile. By his estimate, it shouldn't take long to overcome that deficit with Luke's help.

The 2006 American Quarter Horse Association Horse of the Year, owned by Dallasite Darren Blanton, carried Ohl to last year's world championship.

Originally owned and trained by Chris Lybbert of Forestburg, Texas, the horse was purchased by Blanton and J.D. Tadlock in 2004 for $100,000.

Last year when Ohl crossed the $2 million career earnings mark, he and Luke placed in 24 of 25 consecutive rodeos.

"People don't believe me, but he is 75 percent of my success," Ohl said.

Ohl, 33, says the great thing about Luke is that he works well anywhere. "Whatever the setup, he adjusts to it, and that's what makes him a world champion," he said.

Ohl's focus is clearly on a seventh PRCA championship. He recently bypassed the $1.75 million Calgary Stampede, the highest-paying regular-season rodeo, because money earned at that event doesn't count toward the standings. Ohl said that with the sponsor incentives he would receive for winning the world title, he couldn't afford to skip PRCA events.

"I rodeo for world championships, so I have to go where the money counts," he said.

Hall of Fame welcomes nine new members: Texans Bud Munroe and Jim Davis were among nine inductees Saturday into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame during ceremonies in Colorado Springs. Munroe, of Valley Mills, was the 1986 world saddle bronc riding champion. Davis, of Abilene, was a two-time world steer roping champion.

Others inducted were longtime Wrangler National Finals Rodeo committeeman Michael Gaughan; Doug Corey, D.V.M., a longtime leader in rodeo industry animal welfare issues; Lecile Harris, a four-time PRCA clown of the year; the late Joe Glenn, the 1948 and 1967 world champion team roper; the late Ronnie Rossen, the 1961 and 1966 world champion bull rider; the late rodeo secretary Dorothy Apodaca; and three-time PRCA Bull of the Year Skoal Pacific Bell.

TODAY-SUNDAY, JULY 19-29 — National Cutting Horse Association’s Summer Spectacular, Will Rogers Coliseum, Fort Worth. Today-July 26, 8 a.m. July 27, noon and 3:30 p.m.; July 28, 10 a.m., and 3 p.m. July 29, 3 p.m. 817-244-6188, and www.nchacutting.com.

TODAY-SATURDAY, JULY 19-21 — Bryan Breakfast Lions Club PRCA Rodeo, Tabor Road Arena, Bryan, Texas. 8 p.m.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JULY 20-21 — Mesquite Championship Rodeo, Resistol Arena, Mesquite. 8 p.m. 972-285-8777. Box seats, $30-$14. Reserved grandstand, $12. Seniors (59-up), $7. Children (3-12) $7. www.mesquiterodeo.com.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JULY 20-21 — Stockyards Championship Rodeo, Cowtown Coliseum, Fort Worth. 8 p.m. Box seats, $15. VIP Club seating, $15. General admission, $11.50. Children (3-12), $8. Seniors (60-up), $9.50. 817-625-1025, 817-323-2855, www.stockyardsrodeo.com.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY, JULY 21-29 —Cheyenne Frontier Days, Frontier Park, Cheyenne, Wyo.

SUNDAY-SATURDAY, JULY 22-28 -- National High School Rodeo Association Finals, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ill. 217-782-6661.