A two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion who became the gentle, authoritative voice of stock car racing for generations, Ned Jarrett died in June 2026 at the age of 93. Known universally as 'Gentleman Ned,' he was a titan of the track who successfully transitioned from a dominant driver to the sport's most beloved broadcaster.

High up in the CBS broadcast booth at the 1993 Daytona 500, the man known for his unflappable poise finally let the gentlemanly mask slip, replaced by the raw, unbridled joy of a father. As his son Dale Jarrett battled Dale Earnhardt in the closing laps, Ned’s voice rose in a frantic, rhythmic chant that would become the most famous call in the sport’s history. "Bring it home, Dale! Don't let him get on the inside of you! It's Dale Jarrett! He's gonna win the Daytona 500!" he shouted, his professional neutrality dissolved by the sight of the number 18 car charging toward the checkered flag. It was the "Dale and Dale Show," a moment where the veteran champion and the proud parent became one, cementing his legacy as the emotional soul of the sport.

This vocal explosion stood in stark contrast to the disciplined, quiet technician who had dominated the track decades earlier. In the 1965 Southern 500 at Darlington, Jarrett delivered a performance of such cold, calculated precision that he won by a record-setting margin of 14 laps and 19 seconds. It remains the largest margin of victory in NASCAR history, a testament to a man who once said, "I didn't want to be the best driver that ever lived, I just wanted to be the best I could be." He earned his nickname through a polite demeanor and a clean driving style that refused to sacrifice sportsmanship for speed, yet he remained a fierce competitor.

That drive for excellence was forged in secret on a farm near Newton, North Carolina, where he mastered machinery on tractors before ever touching a stock car. When he finally entered his first race at Hickory Motor Speedway in 1953, he did so using his brother-in-law's car and an assumed name, desperate to keep his father from discovering his dangerous new pursuit. This early hunger eventually led him to the pinnacle of the sport, securing his first Grand National championship in 1961 while driving for owner B.G. Holloway. According to Racing-Reference, he finished his career with 50 Cup Series wins, ranking him in the top 15 on the all-time wins list at the time of his retirement.

His career was bookended by brilliance, culminating in a 1965 season where he recorded 13 wins and 42 top-five finishes in just 54 starts. Yet, at the height of his powers and only 34 years old, he made the unprecedented decision to retire in 1966. He remains the only driver in the sport's history to walk away while still the reigning series champion. This transition allowed him to become an essential bridge between the rough roots of racing and its modern, national era. Jim France, the NASCAR Chairman, noted that Jarrett was the epitome of what a champion should be, describing him as a fierce competitor on the track and a true ambassador for the sport off of it.

As a broadcaster for CBS Sports, ESPN, and the Motor Racing Network, he translated the complexities of the garage for millions of new fans. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011 as part of its second-ever class, a moment he described as the pinnacle of a career. His son Dale, who would go on to win his own championship in 1999, remembered him not just as a hero and mentor, but as the man who taught him how to be a champion and a man. Throughout it all, his wife Martha remained a constant presence, a partner in a life defined by the same sportsmanship that defined his persona.

Ned Jarrett will be remembered as the man who proved that one could be both a shark on the asphalt and a gentleman in the booth. He leaves behind a sport that is larger and more professional because he was part of it, and a family legacy that continues to carry his name with the same dignity he brought to every lap. He is survived by his wife, Martha, and his sons, Dale and Glenn.