By Sarah Handy, Staff Writer
Brittney Zamora had quite the successful 2019 racing season and she will look to carry momentum over to her 2020 racing ventures.
The 2019 season marked the first time that Zamora competed full-time in the K&N Pro Series West as she piloted the No. 99 Toyota for Bill McAnally Racing with sponsorship from both ENEOS and NAPA Filters.
In 14 starts last season, Zamora earned five top-five, 10 top-10 finishes and two pole awards in K&N Pro Series West competition.
She told Kickin’ the Tires her season went well with all that went on.
“2019 went well for all that it included. Being my first time in this series, a rookie, dealing with some mechanical issues and going to tracks that I had never been to before,” said Zamora.
“We came home fifth in overall points, which is respectable. As a driver you always want more and that’s what I will be striving for as we endure the 2020 season.”
It’s clear that momentum from Zamora’s successful 2019 campaign is most certainly right there at the surface and she said it will definitely help her going into 2020.
“2019 will definitely help me going into 2020 as I now have my foot in the door, and I know what to expect. I will be more familiar with the tracks, the cars and how the teams are ran,” said Zamora. “This will help me be able to focus on my purpose and how to improve rather than trying to adjust each week to the new circumstances.”
Furthermore, it was a year of learning and accomplishing goals that Zamora had set out to achieve. Something she went on to do.
“The goals I had accomplished included leading laps, setting fast time, top five’s, podium finishes and becoming a better driver on and off the track. I learned a lot this year and that it what helped me achieve those specific goals plus much more,” said Zamora.
With that said, the west coast tracks are favorites for the 20-year old Kennewick, Washington native.
Included on Zamora’s list is Evergreen where she captured her second pole of the season back in August’s NAPA Auto Parts 150 en-route to a solid third-place finish in the event after leading for 45 laps.
“My favorite tracks so far are actually on the west coast. I love Phoenix, Irwindale and Evergreen. Those would be my top three in the K&N car,” said Zamora. “As for Super Late Model my favorite tracks are Wenatchee and South Sound, both on the west coast.”
It’s important to note, Zamora was the first female to win a race in the Northwest Super Late Model Series.
In addition, she went on to win back-to-back Championships in the Northwest Super Late Model Series in both 2017 and 2018.
Additionally, with racing being a sport that is still fairly dominated by males, Zamora said it’s really cool to go down in the history books in the Northwest.
“It’s really cool to go down in the history books here in the northwest. The northwest is my home, where I grew up and have done 95% of my racing career so it is special to have been successful,” said Zamora.
“Women have been racing out here for a very long time and to be the first to win a Super Late Model Championship, a Super Late Model race and to do those multiple times is really exciting. It shows the hard work that my family and I put into our program throughout the whole year. Hopefully there will be more females who can do the same in the future.”
In addition to her time spent in the K&N Pro Series West, Zamora made six starts in the K&N Pro Series East earning one top-10 and four top-15 finishes. Zamora’s best finish in East competition was a ninth-place result at in the Memphis 150 Presented by AutoZone at Memphis International Raceway in June.
Undoubtedly, Zamora as well as Hailie Deegan are two of the biggest up and comers in racing as far as women go.
With that said, does Zamora feel that female drivers such as her and Deegan are setting the bar for other women in racing and showing that females can most certainly get the job done?
Zamora weighed in on that to Kickin’ the Tires, saying “I think that it really is from the grand scheme, from all girls in motorsports. Whether its NASCAR, local short tracks racing, or drag racing,” stated Zamora.
“Having women in the racing world is crucial to the up and coming generations by showing them that we can do it too. I’m just lucky enough to be a small part of this movement.”
Advice is something that is a part of our everyday lives, sometimes we ask someone else for their advice on a matter or their opinion or vise versa.
Race car drivers are no different as Zamora told us the best advice she’s ever received, and it came recently.
“The best advice I have received came recently from another driver. While at a panel discussion with Denny Hamlin and myself, he had said to me “You are only in competition with yourself,” said Zamora.
“Elaborating on the fact that you always have to be better than your last race, if so, you are going in the right direction. To keep improving on yourself and your ability.”
At this time, Zamora’s 2020 plans have yet to be officially announced.
However, a sneak peak was dropped on Zamora’s Twitter account a couple of days ago.
Zamora will highlight animal shelters and pet adoption agencies throughout the 2020 season with her Pit Road Pals awareness program.
Above all, Zamora’s objective is to increase exposure for the local pet shelters and adoption agencies.
With that said, while she is on the road Zamora will coordinate visits with local media and will feature pets that are available and ready for adoption.
“I regularly look at the local animal adoption websites dreaming and wanting to take one (or two) home. Now I get to see, hold, pet and play with these animals needing a home. Hopefully our efforts will assist in finding forever homes,” said Zamora.
To find out more about Pit Road Pals, please visit Zamora’s official website at: https://brittneyzamora.com/pit-road-pals
Lastly, with Zamora’s plans not officially announced for 2020 just yet, she did state she would like to compete in ARCA and weighed in on her goals for the upcoming season as well.
“I would like to compete in an ARCA car, series not determined yet. My overall goal is to keep racing and to keep proving myself as a driver and I feel that this level is the right place to do,” said Zamora.