Ned Jarrett was an American professional stock car racing driver and broadcaster who became one of NASCAR’s most influential figures both on and off the track. He gained public attention for winning two NASCAR Grand National Series championships (1961, 1965), amassing 50 career wins, and later becoming a beloved television analyst whose emotional call of his son Dale’s 1993 Daytona 500 victory remains one of sports broadcasting’s most iconic moments .
Quick Facts
Full Name: Ned Jarrett
Age: 93 (born October 12, 1932 – died June 4, 2026)
Nationality: American
Occupation: Race Car Driver, Broadcaster
Known For: Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion; Hall of Fame broadcaster; father of Dale Jarrett
Marital Status: Not confirmed (survived by children)
Children: Three – Glenn, Dale, and Patti
Early Life and Background
Born in Conover, North Carolina, on October 12, 1932, Jarrett was introduced to cars early his father let him drive the family car to church when he was just nine years old . He started working in his father’s lumber business by age 12, but racing was his true passion. He drove in his first race in 1952 at Hickory Motor Speedway, finishing tenth in a Sportsman Ford he co-owned .
Career and Achievements
Jarrett’s driving career spanned 13 years and 352 starts, yielding 50 victories making him only the third driver in NASCAR history to reach that milestone . He won back-to-back Sportsman championships in 1957 and 1958 before capturing the Grand National Series (now Cup Series) title in 1961 driving a Chevrolet, and again in 1965 driving a Ford . His 1965 season remains legendary: he won 13 races and posted 42 top-five finishes in 54 starts . That year, he also set the record for the largest margin of victory in NASCAR history winning the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway by 14 laps, a record that still stands today .
After a back injury sustained at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in 1965 and Ford’s withdrawal from NASCAR, Jarrett retired from driving at age 34 . He pivoted to broadcasting, first on radio at WNNC in Newton, North Carolina, then joining MRN Radio in 1978. He became a television analyst for CBS (1984–2000) and ESPN (1988–2000), where his calm, gentlemanly delivery and deep knowledge of the sport made him a trusted voice . His most famous call came during the 1993 Daytona 500, as his son Dale edged Dale Earnhardt at the finish line. Breaking impartiality, Jarrett declared, “It’s the Dale and Dale show, and you know which Dale I’m pulling for!” .
Jarrett was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998 and inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011 . He remains the winningest driver in Ford history with 43 victories for the manufacturer .
Why He Is In the News
Jarrett is in the news following his death on June 4, 2026, at his home in Newton, North Carolina, surrounded by family . Tributes have poured in from NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell, who called him “an outstanding ambassador for the sport for more than six decades,” and from Richard Petty, who said the Petty family is “deeply saddened” and praised Jarrett as “one of the true gentlemen of our sport” .
Conclusion
Ned Jarrett was a rare talent who succeeded at the highest levels of NASCAR both as a driver and as a broadcaster. Known affectionately as “Gentleman Ned” for his calm demeanor and sportsmanship, his legacy endures not only through his championships and records but through the generations of fans he helped bring into the sport and the family legacy carried on by his Hall of Fame son, Dale Jarrett .
