NASCAR Champion Ned Jarrett Dies At 93 (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/NASCAR via Getty Images)
NASCAR Champion Dies At 93
Two-time NASCAR champion and Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett has died at the age of 93.
According to his family, Jarrett passed away from natural causes on June 4 at his home in Newton, North Carolina, surrounded by family members.
“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, North Carolina, with his family by his side. He was 93 years old,” the statement read. “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.”
The NASCAR family is saddened by the loss of Ned Jarrett, a NASCAR Hall of Famer, two-time Cup Series champion and one of our sport’s greatest ambassadors.
We extend our deepest condolences. pic.twitter.com/ewOS2kPyZd
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 5, 2026
Who Was Ned Jarrett?
Known throughout the racing world as “Gentleman Ned,” Jarrett built a legendary career behind the wheel, winning 50 NASCAR Cup Series races and capturing championships in 1961 and 1965. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011 and was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.
After retiring from driving in 1966, Jarrett became one of the sport’s most recognizable broadcasters. He worked for the Motor Racing Network, CBS, and ESPN, helping introduce generations of fans to NASCAR through his calm and knowledgeable commentary.
One of the most memorable moments of his broadcasting career came during the 1993 Daytona 500, when he openly cheered on his son, Dale Jarrett, as he battled past Dale Earnhardt for the victory. The emotional call remains one of the most iconic moments in NASCAR television history.
In a statement, Jarrett’s family remembered him as a devoted Christian, loving father, and friend to everyone he met. NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell praised Jarrett as both a fierce competitor and an outstanding ambassador for the sport whose influence spanned more than six decades.
@nascaronfox Remembering Ned Jarrett today. A father calling his son’s Daytona 500 victory in 1993.
♬ original sound – NASCAR on FOX
