Pozzi Tonozzi on Brink of Third World Title, Gets Round 7 Win

By Ann Bleiker

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, the No. 1 WPRA barrel racer in the world, has been patiently waiting to make her way to the winner’s circle at the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge in Las Vegas, Nevada. The wait is over.

Pozzi Tonozzi and Jets Top Gun “Benny” stopped the clock in 13.47 seconds to win the seventh round and move ever so close to mathematically clinching her third world title.

            “We finally got a go-around win,” stated Pozzi Tonozzi after Rd. 7. “Benny and I have been very patiently winning second. They got the ground worked up really good for tonight and it was fast.”

The Lampasas, Texas, cowgirl leads the average in a time of 95.64 seconds on seven runs and has now surpassed the $400,000 mark in season earnings with $403,389 the most of any barrel racer ever in the 75-year history of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association.

            “I am just excited to have a little room to breathe,” said Pozzi Tonozzi. “I think I am far enough ahead that I have the deal sealed and now it is time to just go have fun.”

            Pozzi Tonozzi is making her 17^th appearance at the Wrangler NFR. Her first coming in 2003 when she also came in as the No. 1 barrel racer her rookie year. She would win her first world title in 2007 and again in 2009. She won NFR average titles in 2006 and 2007. Now in 2023, she can almost taste another one. She is only $14,150 from clinching her third title. A third-round finish or better during the eighth round will do it and she has said in the past one doesn’t start thinking about a world title until the eighth round. Tune in on Thursday night to see how the story unfolds.

            “That would be amazing to come in and be so dominate, to win a go round, win the average, and win the world that is definitely another goal that I would like to reach,” noted Pozzi Tonozzi when talking about leading the average as well and trying to get that third average title along with third world title.

            She is currently second in the Ram Top Gun having won $132,826 thus far in Las Vegas. Bull rider Ky Hamilton leads the way with $160,313. One can bet that is also on her list of goals for 2023.

            Hailey Kinsel was the last WPRA member to have that dominate of a Finals when she became the first barrel racer to win the world, average, Top Gun and fast time award all in the same year. She accomplished that in 2020.

            It was Military night on Wednesday night and each of the Top 15 ladies was riding for Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon Kent. This is a program known as Honor Tags For Heroes and has been a unique program to the WPRA for the last eight years.

Sissy Winn brought the military flavor with her camouflage outfit. Winn along with the other ladies at the 2023 Wrangler NFR are in contention for the Jerry Ann Taylor Best Dressed Award presented by the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.

Another top stat for the WPRA barrel racers at the 2023 Wrangler NFR is that Jessica Routier, who is making her sixth Wrangler NFR has surpassed the $1 million mark in career earnings. She now sets at $1,030,096. She joined the WPRA in 2002 and is currently fifth in the average in a time of 96.58 on seven and is ninth in the world.

Eighth round action gets underway, Thursday, December 14 at 5:45 p.m. PT LIVE on the Cowboy Channel.

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Rd. 7 results: https://wpra.com/nfr-2023-results-wednesday-december-13-2023-round-7/