The NASCAR community is grieving the loss of Ned Jarrett, a legendary driver and broadcaster, who passed away at the age of 93. He died of natural causes at his home in Newton, North Carolina. Jarrett was a celebrated figure in NASCAR, recognized as one of the 50 Greatest Drivers by the organization in 1998.
Jarrett’s racing career in the Cup Series spanned from 1953 to 1966. His interest in racing began when he worked on his family’s farm and sawmill, coinciding with the opening of Hickory Speedway. He once reflected on his early racing experience, saying, “I played a little basketball and baseball in high school and thought I had some athletic ability. When they opened the speedway, I ran the first race they ever run there. I was hooked.”
In his career, Jarrett achieved 43 wins with Ford, placing him at the top of the all-time wins list for Ford drivers. The closest active driver on this list is Joey Logano of Team Penske, with 35 of his 37 career wins driving for Ford.
After retiring from driving, Jarrett transitioned to a successful career in broadcasting. He started as a pit reporter on radio with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and later worked in television with CBS and ESPN. One of his most memorable moments as a broadcaster was during the 1993 Daytona 500 when he enthusiastically called the closing moments between his son, Dale Jarrett, and Dale Earnhardt Sr. Dale Jarrett ultimately won the race, and his father’s excitement was palpable, “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!”
Jarrett’s sons, Dale and Glenn, both followed in their father’s footsteps, entering broadcasting after their racing careers ended. His wife, Martha, whom he was married to for 67 years, also passed away earlier in 2023.
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