Bristol Dragway Junior Dragster racer Aaron Roberts loaded his car for the long trip to the Division 2 Jr. Dragster Finals in Huntsville, Ala. with only one thought on his mind... winning.

The Bluff City native's goal was to leave a good impression on his opponents, something he accomplished after taking top honors in the Race of Champions at the Oct. 13-14 event.

The Race of Champions event pitted the Jr. Dragster champion from tracks throughout the National Hot Rod Association's Division 2 against each other to determine who was number one.  When the smoke cleared, Roberts stood in the Winner's Circle clutching a "Wally," a trophy featuring the likeness of NHRA's founder, the late Wally Parks. The trophy is  identical to those given to NHRA national event winners.

Bill Roberts, Aaron's father, said winning the Race of Champions became a goal for his 16-year-old son while the two were working on his car last winter.

"Aaron was so proud," he said.  "That was his goal for the year.  He wanted to win the Race of Champions because he has never gotten to run in it."

The car Aaron campaigned in during the 2007 season used an engine from one of his past Bristol Dragway rivals, Clinton Snead.  Before the Roberts team left for the Division 2 finals, the family thrashed on their old engine to prepare it for one more race.

"We put his motor back together with old pistons," his father explained.  "It held out just long enough."

After a successful 2007 season in which he raced Super Pro and Jr. Dragster Division 2, Aaron shows no signs of slowing and likely will drive both cars again in 2008.