Austin Vaughn: Building a Career One Lap at a Time

Austin Vaughn is chasing a dream that is bigger than Burnsville. Born in 2008, the 17-year-old is one of the youngest drivers in the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) Menards Series. His story is not about polished facilities or major sponsors. It is about a family, a few cars, and a determination to carve out a place in stock car racing.

Vaughn grew up in the dirt racing culture of Mississippi. He started racing at 11, first in go-karts, then in mini stocks. Dirt shaped his driving style. It taught him car control and patience. Those lessons became the foundation of his next step.

When the time came to move to asphalt, Vaughn proved he belonged. He tested with Lee Faulk Racing, then made his first Grand National Super Series start with Larry Wilcox Racing. At Lonesome Pine, he qualified third and finished fifth in his debut.

That early result showed he had the talent to adapt.

In September 2024, Vaughn made his ARCA debut on the mile dirt at DuQuoin. It was a family effort, pulling together help from Wayne Peterson Motorsports, Larry Wilcox Racing, and longtime backers. He qualified 18th and finished 16th despite a spin and mechanical trouble. The car ran a lower-cost Yates engine because the Ilmor motor was out of reach. It was a clear picture of the budget limits his team faces.

The 2025 season was his biggest step yet. Vaughn committed to a full-time campaign in the ARCA Menards Series East. Driving the No. 34 Ford for Vaugh Wilcox & Vaughn (VWV) Racing, the family’s team, he ran every race on the schedule.

The results were mixed. He finished 15th at Pensacola, 13th at Rockingham, and 14th at Nashville. Flat Rock was the highlight, a fifth-place run that gave him his first top-10 finish. Dover, Bristol, and other stops brought more growing pains. At Indianapolis Raceway Park, he was caught in a crash that forced his team to miss the next race. With only a handful of cars and limited resources, one bad night changed the entire schedule.

Bigger teams replace wrecked cars and move on. Vaughn’s group had to regroup, borrow help, and scramble just to keep racing.Even with the setbacks, Vaughn finished fourth in the final points standings. For a first full season, it was an achievement.

His presence in ARCA, even on a limited budget, is a testament to how far determination can take a small operation.

Vaughn has made no secret of his goals.

He wants to climb the ladder to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the Xfinity Series, and eventually the Cup Series. That path is steep for every young driver.

For now, his career is still in the building stage. He is not yet winning races or drawing national headlines. But Austin Vaughn is 17 years old, running full-time in ARCA, and making a name in one of the most competitive development leagues in the sport. That alone makes his story worth watching.