Richard Petty, center, and Ned Jarrett, right, check over the first-place trophy June 3, 1964 for the NASCAR 200-lap late model automobile race coming up at Fairgrounds Speedways. Title Auto Racing At Nashville In 1964
Richard Petty, center, and Ned Jarrett, right, check over the first-place trophy June 3, 1964 for the NASCAR 200-lap late model automobile race coming up at Fairgrounds Speedways. Title Auto Racing At Nashville In 1964
Jun 6, 2026, 11:05 AM CUT
"Rest in Peace": Condolences Pour in as NASCAR Hall of Famer & Champion Passes Away At 93
NASCAR Hall of Famer and two-time Cup Series champion Ned Jarrett passed away on Thursday at the age of 93. He died of natural causes at his home in Newton, North Carolina, with his family by his side.
Jarrett was a legend of the sport. His career spanned 13 years, from 1953 through 1966, during which he won 50 races. Moreover, he also holds the record for the largest winning margin of 14 laps in the premier series, which he achieved at the 1965 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
After concluding his career, he transitioned into the media side of things as a pitlane reporter with CBS and then an announcer with ESPN as well.
After the news of his passing, tributes and condolences poured in from the NASCAR community. NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell led the tributes.
"Despite his calm demeanor, ‘Gentleman’ Ned Jarrett was as fierce a competitor as NASCAR has ever seen," O’Donnell said in a statement. "His on-track accomplishments speak for themselves with wins and championships across several NASCAR divisions. But it was his off-the-track persona that separated Ned from his peers. He was as kind as his nickname indicated."
Elaborating on Ned Jarrett's media career as a broadcaster, the NASCAR CEO added:
"And his endearing personality helped him excel in his second career as a broadcaster. Ned was an outstanding ambassador for the sport for more than six decades, and he will be dearly missed. On behalf of the France family and all of NASCAR, I offer my deepest condolences to all of Ned’s family and friends on the loss of a NASCAR legend."
NASCAR Community Mourns Ned Jarrett
Fans and many prominent entities from the NASCAR world reacted to the news on social media, remembering the icon that was Ned Jarrett.
Jan 29, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; NASCAR hall of fame driver Ned Jarrett and his wife Martha Jarrett pose on the red carpet for pictures before entering the NASCAR hall of fame induction ceremony at NASCAR hall of fame. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; NASCAR hall of fame driver Ned Jarrett and his wife Martha Jarrett pose on the red carpet for pictures before entering the NASCAR hall of fame induction ceremony at NASCAR hall of fame. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
"Thank you so much! Ned! For all of the good times, and Memories! Rest in Peace, Friend! Good race!" One fan wrote on X.
Another reminisced about Jarrett's respected second career in broadcast, writing:
"He will always be my voice of NASCAR."
A third shared how they were thinking about Jarrett a day before he passed, writing:
"Dang man. Was just thinking about him yesterday. Rest in peace Gentleman."
An old-school NASCAR fan who followed Jarrett since his early broadcasting days in radio, wrote:
"Very sorry to hear of the passing of Ned Jarrett!! In my youth, before racing was on tv live, he was always the constant on MRN broadcasts. Was fortunate enough to meet him on a few occasions. He was a class act through and through!! He will be missed!!
Richard Petty, the winningest driver in the NASCAR Cup Series, who raced against Ned Jarrett in the 1960s, also mourned him. In an X post, Petty wrote:
"The Petty family is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Ned Jarrett. Ned was one of the true gentlemen of our sport and a fierce competitor whose talent, integrity, and dedication helped shape NASCAR into what it is today."
Ned Jarrett's sons, Dale and Glenn, followed in his footsteps into NASCAR, and the former won three Daytona 500s, the 1999 Cup championship, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.
Read more at the RFK Racing Digest.
