Ned Jarrett, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and Hall of Fame broadcaster, died Thursday of natural causes at his home in Newton, North Carolina. He was 93.
His family confirmed the death in a statement, saying Jarrett passed peacefully with loved ones by his side. According to the Jarrett family, he was "NASCAR's oldest living champion" and "a devout Christian and a devoted, loving family man."
In 1965, Jarrett won 13 races and secured his second title—including an unheard of performance at the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, where he crossed the finish line a staggering 14 laps ahead of the field, a margin of victory that still stands as the largest in premier-series history.
Yet for a generation of fans who grew up watching NASCAR on television, Jarrett was better known for what he did after parking his car for good at age 34. His transition from driver to broadcaster was quick and successful—first through a daily radio news program called "Ned Jarrett's World of Racing," then as a pit reporter for the Motor Racing Network, and eventually into the television booth at CBS and ESPN.
One of his most memorable moments in the booth came in the final laps of the 1993 Daytona 500, as his youngest son, Dale Jarrett, dueled five-time champion Dale Earnhardt for the victory. Instead of keeping a neutral broadcaster’s tone, Ned Jarrett let his emotions take over.
"C'mon, Dale, go baby, go," he said as Dale took the white flag. "Don't let him get to the inside of you coming around this turn. Here he comes, Earnhardt; it's the Dale and Dale show as they come off of Turn 4. You know who I'm pulling for, it's Dale Jarrett. Bring her to the inside, Dale, don't let him get down there. He's gonna make it! Dale Jarrett's gonna win the Daytona 500! Alright!"
Dale Jarrett did win—and six years later, in 1999, he claimed the Cup Series championship as well. The Jarretts became only the second father-son duo to win Cup championships, after Lee and Richard Petty. Bill Elliott and his son Chase later joined that exclusive club.
NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell paid tribute to the elder Jarrett in a statement posted on the organization's official X account Friday. "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.”
O’Donnell also commended Jarrett’s character, saying that, “It was his off-the-track persona that separated Ned from his peers. He was as kind as his nickname indicated. And his endearing personality helped him excel in his second career as a broadcaster.”
Jarrett was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011 as part of its second five-member class and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers in 1998. His 43 wins in Ford-powered cars remain the most for any driver in that manufacturer's history.
All three of Jarrett's children carry on his NASCAR legacy. Son Dale is a Hall of Famer in his own right, inducted in 2014. Son Glenn competed in multiple NASCAR series before moving into broadcasting. Daughter Patti Makar is married to Jimmy Makar, a former senior vice president of racing operations at Joe Gibbs Racing.
Ned Jarrett was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Martha, who died Feb. 5, 2023.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.