NASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett has died at the age of 93, his family confirmed. The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and longtime broadcaster passed away of natural causes at his home in Newton, North Carolina. Jarrett, known as 'Gentleman Ned,' was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011 after a storied career that included 50 wins and championships in 1961 and 1965. He also holds the record for the largest margin of victory in a NASCAR race.
Jarrett transitioned to broadcasting after retiring from driving, spending over 20 years with CBS. He worked as a pit reporter from 1979 to 1984 and later as a color analyst until 2000. One of his most memorable moments came during the 1993 Daytona 500, where he passionately called his son Dale Jarrett's victory over Dale Earnhardt. The Jarretts became the second father-son duo to win Cup Series championships, following Lee and Richard Petty.
NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell remembered Jarrett as a racing legend, praising his competitive spirit and kind demeanor. 'Despite his calm demeanor, 'Gentleman' Ned Jarrett was as fierce a competitor as NASCAR has ever seen,' O'Donnell said. 'His on-track accomplishments speak for themselves with wins and championships across several NASCAR divisions.'
Jarrett began his racing career in 1953, winning 43 races behind the wheel of a Ford, a record that remains unmatched. He was also named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998. Beyond racing, Jarrett was known for his broadcasting career, which began with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) before moving to TV with CBS and ESPN.
Jarrett is survived by his three children—Dale, Glenn, and Patti—all of whom have connections to the racing world. His wife, Martha, passed away in February 2023.