Linda Vaughn
Linda Vaughn | |
|---|---|
 Vaughn at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 2015 | |
| Born | Linda Faye Vaughn 1942 (age 83–84) Dalton, Georgia, United States |
| Known for | Motor racing |
Linda Faye Vaughn (born August 11, 1943[1][2] in Dalton, Georgia, United States[3]) is an American motor racing personality who has been described as the "preeminent beauty queen of stock car racing",[4] and "The First Lady of Motorsports".[5][6]
Career
Vaughn was named "Miss Queen of Speed at Atlanta International Raceway" when she was 18 and has acquired many other beauty titles since then, including "Miss Hurst Golden Shifter". She was chosen to be the queen of the 1961 Dixie 400.[5] Vaughn has been a notable ambassador and promoter of various forms of American motor racing for several decades.[7] She has worked closely with Hurst Industries, becoming a key part of the company's marketing.[2][8]
Vaughn appeared in the 1976 film The Gumball Rally, the 1979 film Burnout, and the 1983 film Stroker Ace.[9] She was interviewed for the book All Around the Track: Oral Histories of Drivers, Mechanics, Officials, Owners, Journalists and Others in Motorsports Past and Present by Anne B. Jones and Rex White.[10]
Before beginning a professional career in motorsport, Vaughn worked full-time as a dental technician.[11]
Vaughn is currently a public relations and marketing executive.[10] She previously served as Vice President of public relations for Hurst.[12] She co-authored her autobiography Linda Vaughn: The First Lady of Motorsports with Rob Kinnan.[1]
Personal life
Vaughn has her SCAA license.[13] Vaughn has been public regarding her health issues. She was diagnosed with diabetes, had heart surgery, and recovered from cancer.[13][8]
Vaughn married drag racer Billy Tidwell on December 2,1972; they divorced in 1986.[11][14]
Awards
- She was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2019.[15]
- She was inducted into the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame in 2020.[16]
References
- 1 2 Rob Kinnan; Linda Vaughn (15 October 2014). Linda Vaughn:The First Lady of Motorsports. Motorbooks. p. 12. ISBN 9780760346471.
- 1 2 "Linda Vaughn". www.mshf.com. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
- ↑ "Linda Vaughn Interview". Motor Trend. 4 January 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
- ↑ Lew Freedman (14 March 2013). Encyclopedia of Stock Car Racing. ABC-CLIO. p. 782. ISBN 978-0-313-38710-4.
- 1 2 Rob Kinnan; Linda Vaughn (15 October 2014). Linda Vaughn:The First Lady of Motorsports. Motorbooks. p. 1,29,40. ISBN 9780760346471.
- ↑ Kinnan, Rob (2011-07-11). "Linda Vaughn - Miss Hurst Golden Shifter in Her Own Words - Hot Rod Magazine". MotorTrend. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
- ↑ J.A. Martin; Thomas F. Saal (5 March 2004). American Auto Racing: The Milestones and Personalities of a Century of Speed. McFarland. p. 101. ISBN 978-0-7864-8389-1.
- 1 2 Medley, Gary (March 20, 2020). "Linda Vaughn - The First Lady of Racing". Fuel Curve. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
- ↑ "Linda Vaughn". IMDB. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
- 1 2 Simone, Daniel J. (2012). "Reviewed work: 'All around the track: Oral historys of drivers, mechanics, officials, owners, journalists, and others in motorsports past and present' by Anne B. Jones and Rex White". The Oral History Review. 39 (1). Taylor & Francis: 169–171 – via JSTOR.
- 1 2 Staff, HOT ROD (2023-01-01). "First Lady Linda Vaughn: Saluting Miss Hurst, The Beauty Queen With Brains". MotorTrend. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
- ↑ "HOF - Linda Vaughn". Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA). 2022-09-29. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
- 1 2 Pearley Huffman, John (2012-11-02). "Linda Vaughn: What I'd Do Differently". Car and Driver. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
- ↑ Higgins, Will. "Linda Vaughn in Indy through Saturday". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
- ↑ Linda Vaughn at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
- ↑ Pryson, Mike (2025-06-10). "Gallery: Miss Hurst Golden Shifter Linda Vaughn through the years". Autoweek. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
External links
- Linda Vaughn at IMDb