NASCAR’s oldest championship driver has died.

Net Jarrett died June 4, 2026 at the age of 93 as a result of natural causes in his North Carolina home.

The family has issued a statement saying, “With profound sadness, the family of NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and radio/TV personality, Ned Jarrett, announces his passing on Thursday, June 4, 2026. He died peacefully of natural causes at his home in Newton, North Carolina, with his family by his side. He was 93 years old. Our father was a devout Christian and a devoted, loving family man. He was a friend to everyone he met and NASCAR’s oldest living champion. By all accounts, he was a true NASCAR legend. While we mourn his passing, we celebrate the remarkable life of an amazing man and truly the best father anyone could have wished for. Rest in Peace, Dad.”

NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell added, “despite his calm demeanor, ‘Gentleman’ Ned Jarrett was as fierce a competitor as NASCAR has ever seen.  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. 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.”

A member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Ned Jarrett is a two time Cup Series and two time Sportsman champion who transitioned into the broadcast booth after retiring from driving in 1966.  He even got to call the finish of the race when his son Dale won the Daytona 500 in 1993.  While a national television audience looked on, Jarrett said, “C’mon, Dale, go baby, go. … Don’t let him (Earnhardt) get to the inside of you coming around this turn. Here he comes, Earnhardt; it’s the Dale and Dale show as they come off of Turn 4.  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!”

Ending his career at the age of 34 after a back injury, Ned Jarrett holds the record for the largest margin of victory.  Today, a win of 10 or 12 seconds is seen as outrageous; but in the 1965 Southern 500 at Darlington, Ned Jarrett won the race by 14 LAPS!

Jarrett won 50 races in just 352 race starts with 239 top 10 finishes.  Forty-three of those 50 wins were done while driving a Ford – the most of any driver.

He was born on October 12, 1932 in Conover, North Carolina where he helped out on the family farm and sawmill.

Talk of building a new race track – Hickory Speedway – sparked Jarrett’s interest and he began to make plans to race at the new track.  Jarrett notes, “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.”  At the time racing was more of a hobby for Ned.  It wasn’t until he began winning races in the Sportsman Series on a regular basis, that he considered moving up to the next series and make a living out of racing.

After no owner approached Jarrett, he took matters into his own hands…Junior Johnson had a 1957 Ford he was driving and winning with, but was getting a new car built.  The Ford was for sale – $2,000.  Not having the money…so he took a big gamble and wrote the check on Friday after the bank had closed,  took the car, ran two races over the weekend…and won, put the money in the bank, and covered the cost of the car when the bank opened on Monday!  Ned Jarrett was now a driver in NASCAR’s Grand National Series.

When Fireball Roberts crashed at the World 600 (now Coke 600) in 1964, it was Ned Jarrett who pulled Roberts from the flaming car.  Roberts later died from his injuries (third degree burns); Jarrett was treated for minor burns.

Predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Martha; Jarrett is survived by children Dale, Glenn, and Patti, and grandson Jason.