NASCAR Champion Passes
NASCAR Hall of Famer and Two-Time Champion Ned Jarrett Dies at 93
Ned Jarrett, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and Hall of Famer widely known as "Gentleman Ned," died Thursday at his home in Newton, North Carolina. He was 93. NASCAR.com confirmed he passed peacefully of natural causes, surrounded by his family, on June 4, 2026.
NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell called Jarrett "as fierce a competitor as NASCAR has ever seen" and "an outstanding ambassador for the sport for more than six decades," according to FOX 13 Tampa Bay. Jarrett won championships in 1961 and 1965, racked up 50 career wins, and later spent over 31 years as a beloved broadcaster.
A Champion Who Retired at the Very Top
Jarrett raced from 1953 to 1966, making 352 career starts. His 50 wins place him tied for 13th all-time, according to NASCAR.com. He is the only driver in NASCAR premier-series history to retire as the reigning champion — a distinction no one else has ever matched.
His 1965 season stands as one of the most dominant in the sport's history. At the Southern 500 that year, he won by 14 laps — still the largest margin of victory in NASCAR premier-series history, per The Charlotte Observer. The Jarrett family described him in their statement as a "devout Christian" and "NASCAR's oldest living champion."
The Broadcast Moment That Defined a Legacy
After hanging up his helmet, Jarrett built a second career in the broadcast booth. He spent decades on CBS and ESPN and hosted "World of Racing" on MRN Radio for more than 31 years, according to Barrett Media.
His most famous moment behind the microphone came at the 1993 Daytona 500, when he called his own son Dale's victory live on air. RACER noted the call is still cited as one of the most emotional moments in NASCAR broadcasting history. Dale Jarrett went on to win the Cup Series championship himself in 1999.
Hall of Famer Remembered by NASCAR Royalty
NASCAR legend Richard Petty offered a tribute, saying: "Ned was one of the true gentlemen of our sport and a fierce competitor whose talent, integrity, and dedication helped shape NASCAR." Jarrett was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011 as part of its inaugural class of honorees.
His sons Dale and Glenn Jarrett — both well-known figures in the sport — issued the family's official statement. The Charlotte Observer noted that analysts have described Ned as the sport's "patriarch" and "steward," someone whose passing closes a foundational chapter of NASCAR history.
Jarrett's Death Comes During a Difficult Year for NASCAR
Jarrett's passing arrives during one of the sport's hardest stretches in recent memory. Kyle Busch, 41, died in May 2026 after being found unresponsive at a training facility in Concord, North Carolina, according to WCNC. Before that, Greg Biffle and his family were killed in a plane crash in December 2025.
Against that backdrop, NASCAR is leaning into Jarrett's legacy of stability and sportsmanship. A full pre-race tribute is expected at upcoming events, GPblog reported, with a focus on his longevity and decades of service to the sport. Fans on social media described a mix of deep sadness and exhaustion after what many called a "difficult period" for NASCAR.
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