BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi won her third career Gold Buckle and first since 2009 on Saturday night, and this one was never in doubt.
After breaking the regular season earnings record with $270,563, Pozzi Tonozzi added $225,936 more during the NFR to finish with $496,498 to shatter the WPRA record of $350,700 set by Hailey Kinsel in 2018. Pozzi Tonozzi was $153,000 clear of second-place cowgirl Lisa Lockhart.
In addition to her third Gold Buckle, Pozzi Tonozzi also finished second in the Average.
“I wouldn’t be a winner without these great horses that I had the opportunity to ride this year,” she said. “I’m just so thankful for all of the owners that let me ride ‘em...It’s just been an incredible year.
Pozzi Tonozzi was 141.18 on 10 overall at the NFR and won Round 7. She also finished second in four rounds and placed in 8-of-10 total. She became the fourth cowgirl to earn more than $1 million at the NFR, joining Sherry Cervi, Lisa Lockhart and Hailey Kinsel.
During the regular season, Pozzi Tonozzi won Reno, Calgary, Salt Lake City, Ellensburg and the Cinch Playoffs among her 17 total rodeo wins. That included arena records in Reno and Ellensburg.
With her NFR earnings, Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi has now made over $3.3 million in her career and sits third on the all-time WPRA barrel racing earnings list behind Lisa Lockhart and Sherry Cervi.
