When most teenagers turn 16, their time is spent learning to drive and securing a driver's license. Not so for Aaron Higgins, who at 16 years of age claimed the 2006 K-C Raceway modified championship. Higgins is in his seventh year of racing overall and third in a modified race car. He began racing go karts at the age of nine and moved to modifieds at the age of 14. The 2006 points championship at K-C Raceway is actually his second career championship. While running the go kart circuit, Higgins won the Gold Plate Division at Wheelersburg Raceway. On Saturday, August 28, Higgins signed in at K-C Raceway and set fast time among 35 modifieds present for the American Motor Racing Association (AMRA) Road Warriors race. The AMRA is a national sanctioning body based in Mt. Alto, W. Va., which sanctions Open Wheel Modified auto racing in the United States. AMRA race tracks are primarily dirt and range in size from 1/4 to 5/8 mile.

     After setting fast time, Higgins was on the pole for his heat race. He went on to win his heat race and grabbed the pole for the feature. He led the first four laps of the 30-lap race, eventually finishing the race in fifth place after battling with many experienced racers. “I was excited about that,” said Higgins referring to the points championship. “But I was a little disappointed because I started pole, it was the final race, and I ended up getting fifth. I wasn't really thinking about it (the points chase) during the race.” Higgins won the track championship by 31 points, after going into the final race of the season with a 12 point lead. “We're happy,” said Aaron's father, Mitch. Longtime racer Bud Frazier, 72, who was the K-C Raceway 1997 modified points champion, finished second in the points race behind Higgins. Higgins wasn't really planning to race for points when he began the 2006 season at K-C, because running a points race restricts the driver from competing at other races. Too many points would be lost by missing races to compete at other tracks. About halfway through the season, they had a good lead and Higgins said they decided to stick with the points chase, especially since it was a local track with local sponsors. “We weren't going to run for points. We didn't want to get caught up in the whole being there every week and making sure we did good. It is kind of hard to miss a race and win the points. But we were leading and we just decided to go ahead and run it.” Higgins' talent has been noticed by K-C Raceway Media Relations Director Scott Wolfe, who had nothing but praise for the young driver. “Aaron has a natural talent as a race car driver. Sometimes you see drivers, drivers of all ages, but especially young drivers reveal their rookie stripes; however, Aaron was fast and smooth right out of the gate. Also, you see drivers that have raced for years that have not had the success that Aaron has had,” said Wolfe. “What impresses me most is that he doesn't back down - not for anyone! At the AMRA Road Warriors race, both Louis Krushansky and Kenny Johnson planted their noses hard into Aaron's line on the track and he did not yield. He held his ground, kept his line and was not intimidated. At one point they both passed him and he came right back and regained his position. Those guys have raced for over 20 years. They were rookies before Aaron was born.”

     Even though he competed for points at K-C Raceway this year, Higgins raced at many other tracks, including Brushcreek Motorsports Complex near Peebles, Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Skyline near Athens, Rocky Top at Coal Grove, Portsmouth Raceway Park, Paducah International Speedway, Ky., and Oglethorpe Speedway Park, Ga. “Many times we raced Friday nights and Saturday nights, and that is tough,” said Mitch. You get home at 1 or 2 in the morning. Then you have to get up and start washing the car, change the oil, fix any dents and broken parts, and grease it.” For one person to do the maintenance on Aaron's car, Mitch estimated that it would take 20 hours. “Not everybody does this, but if you are going to be successful you need to do it,” Mitch said, referring to keeping the car in tip-top shape. “I've been to a lot of chassis seminars and Aaron has been to driving school in Arkansas. The consistent message we hear is that races are won in the garage. You have to know every bolt is tight, every joint is lubricated, and that the car is in top-notch condition.” Now the task at hand is to get his car ready for the modified portion of the Late Model Dirt Track World Championship, which will be held at K-C Raceway Oct. 19-21. Being the points winner has given Higgins a guaranteed spot in the modified portion of the Dirt Track World Championship. Higgins destroyed his car in a race at Eldora the Sunday before Labor Day. He was not hurt, but the family had to purchase a new chassis for the car and was working to get it back together before the DTWC. “There were two guys in front of me and they got into each other. One went up and hit the wall and then rolled down in front of me. I thought I cleared them, but his nose hit my right rear and turned me sideways. Then my left rear (tire) blew and it caught and sent me up,” said Aaron, who ended up flipping two-and-a-half times. Aaron is looking towards the 2007 season with anticipation as he looks to make the jump to another level. “At one point it was sprint cars, but I don't know now. We had all of our stuff on the other car, and then I wrecked it, so we had to go buy a new chassis. I think it depends on what sponsors we get,” said Aaron. If indeed the move is to sprint cars, Higgins would like to race on the World of Outlaws circuit. “I think a sprint car might be easier to drive than a modified. It is so much shorter and you have a lot more tire. You have a lot more power and it weighs less, but I think you could use that to your advantage,” said Aaron. “You could throttle control and make your back end come around if you want to. I think it will be easier, but it might not be. Hopefully I will get to find out next year.”

     While in the process of securing sponsors, Aaron and Mitch have also discussed making the jump to asphalt, because he will need to do that at some point if he wants to race professionally. Making it to the Nextel Cup would be Aaron's ultimate dream. “Some professional racing teams suggest getting on asphalt now. Others say we can wait a little while. There isn't a right answer,” said Mitch. Advantages for Aaron are being a young driver with a building fan base and a points championship under his belt. “Aaron is racy, keeps his cool, and most of all he can flat out handle a race car. I think Aaron has a lot of talent, as much as any young driver I have seen. I have been going to races since I was six months old and raced competitively for 25 years. Aaron has the talent to go places. If he is going to make a move to the big time, he has to make a move soon and have a calculated plan in order,” said Wolfe. “But if anyone can do it he can. He certainly has impressed me. To win a championship at K-C is a big deal. On a weekly basis you don't find any better cars and drivers in the country. And the high banks at K-C and the high speeds that you maintain there are a challenge in themselves. On any given night, you have 20 drivers that are capable of winning. “I guess the coach in me is coming out now,” laughed Wolfe. “But my thoughts to Aaron are- when you make the jump to another level, don't try to do too much too quick. Race and learn and don't change the formula that has hurdled you to the top. Just study, learn, and remain focused. The wins and a bright future are going to come.” Of all the aspects of racing, Aaron says he enjoys winning the most. “There's a lot of a adrenaline. You are just two or three feet from a guy, passing him, knowing when to slide up, it is just a rush. No one my age at my school does it, so I am kind of original I guess,” said Aaron, who feels his early start in racing gives him an advantage. “Experience makes you a good driver.” Wolfe also sees other reasons why Higgins is a good driver. “One observance I made was that Aaron has been able to distinguish between being a race driver and still being a kid. He is able to be serious and focused on the track, yet be able to walk through the stands between the races and just be Aaron. I have never seen him panic. He has been in some jams, but driven out of them like a veteran,” said Wolfe. “I have seen other youngsters tabbed rising stars that had the talent, but the pressures of racing and having success just overwhelmed them. They could not handle the pressure. Everyone wanted to be a Jeff Gordon, once Jeff hit the sprint car scene at age 13. Not many were able to make it, but I think that if Aaron really wants to - if he wants to make the sacrifice - that he can do it with much success.”