Nostalgia Funny Car driver, and newly christened 7.0 Pro champion Bobby Cottrell couldn't help but wonder. 

What if he had a full season under his belt?

Cottrell finished third in the championship points on the strength of a totally dominating AA/FC win at the California Hot Rod Reunion behind the wheel of Bucky Austin's Funny Car beating an upset-minded Matt Bynum in the final round. 

Now the event wasn't all peaches and cream for Cottrell, who opened up Friday's qualifying with a disqualification for spilling oil on the racing surface. 

"It was a busy weekend," Cottrell said. "We hurt some parts, and I’m so thankful for my crew. They’ve worked their tails off. Every single round we had to change stuff. To get the win here in front of my family and my kids and stuff is pretty special."

Cottrell knew the mindset of his tuner Austin, specifically in a situation like this.

"That kind of stuff is fuel for Bucky," Cottrell said. "I knew he was going to come back swinging. I was not worried about it because I knew he was going to throw everything at it the next pass. It worked out. We kicked ass every round, so I’m just thankful to Bucky and the crew and everybody that works on the car and helps me through this deal. I’m happy." 

Cottrell confirmed he'll return as the driver in 2018. There will be no wondering next season of the team's potential. 

"We’re just going to start off strong and go from there," Cottrell said. 

This weekend, once Cottrell had clinched his 7.0 championship, he withdrew from competition in the sportsman division. 

"We hurt a motor in the Funny Car so, I work on the car I don’t just drive the car, as far as the Funny Car," Cottrell said. "I didn’t want to leave my crew high and dry, so I just stuck with them, and kind of threw the race out for 7.0. We already had the championship locked up, so I told them, ‘I’m sorry guys, we got the championship, but I’ve got to go work." 

"The Funny Car’s my priority now. I feel at home in the car, and I’m just thankful I got the opportunity, man. It’s just a dream come true." 

And for Cottrell, the dream is just starting.