Ned Jarrett 1932-2026

Ned Jarrett, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and former NASCAR broadcast analyst, has passed away. A statement from the Jarrett family issued Friday and revealed his passing occurred on Thursday, June 4. He was 93 years old.

The full statement reads, “With profound sadness, the family of NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and radio/TV personality, Ned Jarrett, announces his passing on Thursday, June 4, 2026. He died peacefully of natural causes at his home in Newton, N.C., with his family by his side. He was 93 years old.

“Our father was a devout Christian and a devoted, loving family man. He was a friend to everyone he met and NASCAR’s oldest living champion. By all accounts, he was a true NASCAR legend. While we mourn his passing, we celebrate the remarkable life of an amazing man and truly the best father anyone could have wished for. Rest in Peace, Dad.”

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Ned Jarrett got his love of racing by seeing races at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway in its early days. Jarrett claimed his NASCAR championships in 1961 and 1965, with a career spanning over a decade from 1953 through 1966. In that time, Jarrett won 50 races, which has him 13th on the all-time wins list.

Additionally, Jarrett, who earned the nickname “Gentlemen Ned” for his demeanor, was a two-time champion in the Sportsman Division (1957 and '58), the precursor to today's O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.

Upon retiring from driving, doing so when Ford left NASCAR and after winning his second title, a promise to his wife, Martha, Jarrett made a seamless transition into broadcasting and became a popular, well-known voice. One of the sport’s most memorable broadcasting moments came when Jarrett was in the CBS booth for the 1993 Daytona 500 and called his son, Dale Jarrett, to the victory over Dale Earnhardt.

“It’s the Dale and Dale show as they come off Turn 4,” Jarrett said. “You know who I’m pulling for, it’s Dale Jarrett. … He’s going to make it! Dale Jarrett is going to win the Daytona 500! All right!”

Jarrett also spent time doing broadcast work for ESPN and MRN Radio during his career.

Ned and Dale Jarrett at Indy after Dale's 1995 Brickyard 400 win. Brian Bahr/Getty Images

“Despite his calm demeanor, ‘Gentleman’ Ned Jarrett was as fierce a competitor as NASCAR has ever seen,” said NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell. “His on-track accomplishments speak for themselves with wins and championships across several NASCAR divisions. But 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.

“Ned was an outstanding ambassador for the sport for more than six decades and he will be dearly missed. On behalf of the France family and all of NASCAR, I offer my deepest condolences to all of Ned’s family and friends on the loss of a NASCAR legend.”

Ned Jarrett was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011 (pictured, top). He was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.