Austin Vaughn Bio
Austin Vaughn (born August 15, 2008) is an American professional stock car racing driver from Burnsville, Mississippi. He last competed full-time in the ARCA Menards Series East, driving the No. 34/67 Ford for VWV Racing, and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series with Maples Motorsports and VWV. A young driver in the early stages of his professional career, Vaughn has built experience across stock car, open-wheel modified, and weekly short track series in the southeastern United States.
Early Life and Background
Austin Vaughn was born on August 15, 2008, in Burnsville, Mississippi, a small community in the northeastern part of the state. Growing up in a region with deep short track racing roots, he was exposed to grassroots motorsports at a young age. His early interest in racing led him to compete in local and regional events while still a teenager, gaining seat time on familiar ovals across Mississippi and the surrounding states.
Before reaching the ARCA ranks, Vaughn developed his skills in a variety of lower-profile series. He raced in the Grand National Super Series, the Tri-State Open Wheel Modified Series, and the Crate Racin’ USA Weekly Racing Series, building a foundation in both open-wheel modified machines and traditional stock car chassis. These formative years on regional tracks helped him sharpen the race craft needed to step into nationally sanctioned competition.
Path to NASCAR
Vaughn’s path toward NASCAR-affiliated competition began with his 2024 ARCA Menards Series debut at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds dirt track. Driving the No. 06 Toyota, he posted the eighteenth-fastest time in practice, qualified eighteenth, and finished sixteenth after suffering a spin and encountering mechanical issues during the race. The event served as his first introduction to the national stock car stage.
In 2025, Vaughn continued his climb by participating in the pre-season ARCA Menards Series test at Daytona International Speedway with Kennedy Aiken Racing in the No. 00 Toyota. He then made his ARCA Menards Series East debut at Five Flags Speedway with VWV Racing, running the No. 34 Ford and adding three more East starts at Rockingham, Nashville Fairgrounds, and Flat Rock, where he earned a best finish of fifth. Those results helped establish him as a rising rookie in the ARCA ladder.
Austin Vaughn Career
Early Career (2024)
Vaughn’s first documented national-level season came in 2024, when he was revealed as an entry for the ARCA Menards Series race at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds dirt mile. The DuQuoin event, run on a unique state fairgrounds layout, was a demanding place for any young driver to begin. Vaughn handled the challenge by making the field, qualifying in the eighteenth position after a clean practice run.
During the race itself, he suffered a spin that led to mechanical issues, and he ultimately finished sixteenth. While the result was modest, the start gave Vaughn valuable experience in a heavier stock car on a non-traditional surface. It also marked his first collaboration with Toyota power at the national level.
ARCA Menards Series East Breakthrough (2025)
Vaughn’s breakthrough season came in 2025 with VWV Racing in the ARCA Menards Series East. He made his series debut at Five Flags Speedway driving the No. 34 Ford, joining a competitive East field and immediately running within striking distance of the leaders. From there, he entered three additional East events at Rockingham, Nashville Fairgrounds, and Flat Rock, gaining experience across a variety of track shapes and surfaces.
His best East finish of the year came at Flat Rock, where he recorded a fifth-place result, his strongest run of the breakout campaign. The consistency of his East schedule, combined with the Rookie of the Year honor, signaled that Vaughn had adapted quickly to the demands of ARCA competition. The season positioned him as a notable young talent to watch within the ARCA ladder system.
VWV Racing Era (2025–Present)
Throughout 2025, Vaughn aligned with VWV Racing as his primary team, driving the No. 34 and No. 67 Ford entries across ARCA competition. The team provided him the opportunity to contest both the East division and selected main ARCA Menards Series events, a common path for developing drivers looking to gain experience at multiple levels in the same season.
In addition to his East starts, Vaughn also made a part-time ARCA Menards Series appearance at Lime Rock Park with Maples Motorsports, driving the No. 67 Chevrolet and finishing eighteenth. The split schedule allowed him to gain experience with multiple teams and manufacturers, including stints in both Ford and Chevrolet equipment, while continuing his development under the VWV banner.
Driving Style and Strengths
Vaughn has shown adaptability across track types, from the dirt at DuQuoin to short paved ovals like Flat Rock and Five Flags Speedway, and larger facilities such as Rockingham and Nashville Fairgrounds. His willingness to race on diverse surfaces, including open-wheel modified events, points to a versatile skill set. Working with crews at VWV Racing and Maples Motorsports has given him exposure to different setups and race strategies, an important foundation for a young driver.
Notable Races and Milestones
Vaughn’s most memorable runs include his ARCA Menards Series debut at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds dirt track in 2024, his East debut at Five Flags Speedway in 2025, and his fifth-place finish at Flat Rock, which stands as his best documented result in ARCA competition. The 2025 ARCA Menards Series East Rookie of the Year award capped that stretch as his most significant milestone to date.
Austin Vaughn Career Wins
As of the 2025 season, Austin Vaughn has not recorded a feature victory in ARCA Menards Series or ARCA Menards Series East competition. His documented results include a best finish of fifth at Flat Rock in the East division, alongside several top-twenty runs across both ARCA series. With his Rookie of the Year honor in the East, his win column is expected to grow as he continues to develop with VWV Racing.
ARCA Menards Series East Highlights
Vaughn’s primary series in 2025 was the ARCA Menards Series East, where he drove the No. 34 Ford for VWV Racing. Across his four documented East starts at Five Flags Speedway, Rockingham, Nashville Fairgrounds, and Flat Rock, he recorded a best finish of fifth at Flat Rock. His consistency as a rookie helped him secure the 2025 ARCA Menards Series East Rookie of the Year award.
Other Wins and Performances
Prior to his ARCA debut, Vaughn competed in the Grand National Super Series, the Tri-State Open Wheel Modified Series, and the Crate Racin’ USA Weekly Racing Series, regional steps that helped him transition to national stock car competition. Detailed win totals from those regional series are not clearly documented in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Austin Vaughn’s first full year of ARCA Menards Series East competition and his most significant to date. Running the No. 34 Ford for VWV Racing, he contested four East events and added a part-time main ARCA Menards Series start with Maples Motorsports at Lime Rock Park in the No. 67 Chevrolet. His Flat Rock fifth-place result was the highlight of the East campaign.
Vaughn’s performance as a rookie, combined with his Rookie of the Year honor, established him as a developing talent within the ARCA ladder. The schedule exposed him to a wide range of track types, from short paved ovals to historic fairgrounds layouts, broadening his experience base. Working with VWV Racing and Maples Motorsports also gave him perspective on different team operations and manufacturer relationships.
Looking ahead, Vaughn’s outlook centers on continuing to build speed and consistency at the ARCA level, with the long-term goal of climbing toward NASCAR national series competition. His 2025 rookie success provides a foundation, and additional seat time in 2026 and beyond is expected to be a key part of his development path.