NASCAR lost one of its true legends Thursday as two-time Cup Series champion, Hall of Fame broadcaster, and beloved ambassador Ned Jarrett passed away peacefully at his home in Newton, North Carolina. He was 93 years old.

Known throughout the sport as “Gentleman Ned,” Jarrett’s impact on NASCAR stretched far beyond his remarkable accomplishments behind the wheel. From championship-winning driver to iconic television voice, promoter, mentor, and family patriarch, Jarrett helped shape NASCAR for more than seven decades.

His family announced his passing Thursday evening.

“Our father was a devout Christian and a devoted, loving family man,” the Jarrett family said in a statement. “He was a friend to everyone he met and NASCAR’s oldest living champion. By all accounts, he was a true NASCAR legend.”

A Champion on the Track

Jarrett’s driving career may have been relatively brief by modern standards, but it was extraordinarily successful.

Competing in NASCAR’s premier series from 1953 through 1966, Jarrett won 50 races in just 352 starts, becoming only the third driver in series history to reach the milestone. He captured Cup Series championships in 1961 and 1965 while also winning back-to-back NASCAR Sportsman Series titles in 1957 and 1958.

His statistical resume remains among the most impressive of his era:

• 50 Cup Series victories
• 185 top-five finishes
• 239 top-10 finishes
• 2 Cup Series championships
• 2 Sportsman Series championships

One record may never be broken. Jarrett’s victory in the 1965 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway came by an astonishing 14 laps, still the largest margin of victory in NASCAR Cup Series history.

That same 1965 season saw Jarrett overcome a broken back suffered in a crash at Greenville-Pickens Speedway before rallying to claim his second championship.

The Gamble That Changed Everything

One of NASCAR’s most famous stories belongs to Jarrett.

In 1959, desperate for a competitive ride, Jarrett purchased a former Junior Johnson race car for $2,000—even though he didn’t have the money in the bank to cover the check.

His plan?

Win two races that weekend before the check could clear.

Remarkably, he did exactly that.

Jarrett won races at Myrtle Beach and Charlotte on consecutive days, earning enough prize money to cover the purchase and launching a career that would eventually land him in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

It’s a story that perfectly captures the grit and determination that defined NASCAR’s early generations.

A Hero Beyond Competition

Jarrett’s legacy extends beyond wins and championships.

During the 1964 World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, he helped pull fellow NASCAR star Fireball Roberts from his burning race car following a devastating crash. Jarrett suffered minor burns during the rescue effort.

The act reflected the character that earned him the “Gentleman Ned” nickname and the respect of competitors throughout the garage.

From Driver to Iconic Broadcaster

After retiring from driving at just 34 years old, Jarrett quickly became one of NASCAR’s most recognizable voices.

He worked with MRN Radio before moving to television, where he became a fixture on CBS and ESPN broadcasts for decades.

His most famous call came during the closing laps of the 1993 Daytona 500 when his son, Dale Jarrett, battled Dale Earnhardt for NASCAR’s biggest prize.

As father and broadcaster, Jarrett could no longer contain his emotions.

“You know who I’m pulling for, it’s Dale Jarrett.”

Moments later:

“Dale Jarrett’s gonna win the Daytona 500! Alright!”

The call remains one of the most cherished moments in NASCAR broadcasting history.

NASCAR Reacts

NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell praised Jarrett’s immense influence on the sport.

“Despite his calm demeanor, ‘Gentleman’ Ned Jarrett was as fierce a competitor as NASCAR has ever seen,” O’Donnell said. “His on-track accomplishments speak for themselves, but it was his off-the-track persona that separated Ned from his peers. He was as kind as his nickname indicated.”

Jarrett was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011 as part of its second class and was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.

A Lasting Family Legacy

Few families have had a greater impact on NASCAR than the Jarretts.

His son Dale became a Daytona 500 winner, 1999 Cup Series champion, and NASCAR Hall of Famer himself. Son Glenn competed and later became a broadcaster, while daughter Patti’s family remains deeply involved in the sport through Joe Gibbs Racing.

Jarrett was preceded in death by his wife Martha in 2023 after 67 years of marriage.

Remembering a NASCAR Giant

Ned Jarrett represented everything NASCAR hopes to be remembered for—hard work, humility, sportsmanship, and excellence.

He won championships, broke records, saved lives, called some of the sport’s most memorable moments, and remained a respected voice for generations of fans.

His final lesson may have come from a quote he gave the Associated Press in 1963:

“There’s very little glamour in this business of stock-car racing. It is hard work. To make money in it, you’ve got to run your team like you would any other business. You can’t live on fame.”

NASCAR has lost one of its greatest champions.

But the legacy of Gentleman Ned Jarrett will continue to echo through race shops, grandstands, broadcast booths, and victory lanes for generations to come.