NASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett dies at 93
Ned Jarrett, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and longtime broadcaster, died Thursday of natural causes at his home in Newton, North Carolina. He was 93.
ESPNNASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett died Thursday of natural causes at his home in Newton, North Carolina. He was 93. His family announced the death in a statement shared by the racing organization. Jarrett won 50 races on NASCAR's top circuit and captured Cup Series championships in 1961 and 1965.
Career and records Jarrett was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011 as part of the second five-member class. He still holds the record for the largest margin of victory in a NASCAR race.
Broadcasting career Jarrett spent more than 20 years with CBS, working as a pit reporter from 1979 to 1984 and as a color analyst from 1984 to 2000. One of his signature moments came in the 1993 Daytona 500 when he called the finish as his son held off another driver for the win. The Jarretts became the second father-son combination to win Cup Series championships.
O'Donnell remembered Jarrett as a racing legend.
“Despite his calm demeanor, 'Gentleman' Ned Jarrett was as fierce a competitor as NASCAR has ever seen. His on-track accomplishments speak for themselves with wins and championships across several NASCAR divisions." — Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR CEO O'Donnell added that Jarrett's off-track persona set him apart and that his personality helped him excel as a broadcaster. Jarrett's family described him as a devout Christian and devoted family man who was a friend to everyone he met. Jarrett's wife Martha died in February 2023. The couple had three children, all of whom have connections to the racing world.”
