NASCAR champion Dale Jarrett shared a poignant tribute to his late father, Ned Jarrett. He recalled a personal anecdote about Jarrett advocating for kindness.
On June 4, Ned Jarrett passed away at his home in Newton, California. An official statement from his family revealed that he died of natural causes at 93.
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The two-time Cup champion had a stellar career with 50 Cup wins to his name. Moreover, he’s the only driver to retire as a reigning champion. Jarrett then became a fixture of NASCAR broadcasting, often called the ‘gentleman’ of the sport for his calm and kind demeanor.
In a recent interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Dale Jarrett honored his father and said:
“Dad loved the fans and it was just amazing what the fan base thought of him….And yes, we’re going to miss him. But we had a lot of time with my dad and learned a lot of things, great love, great guidance and support through the many years. So I appreciate there have been so many people that have reached out….it’s just, hope that people don’t forget him.”
“My dad looked at things in a way that and he told me this many times from the time I was young that,” he continued, “It’s really easier to be nice to people than not to be. And we could use a lot more of that in our world today.
Dale Jarrett is the first son of Ned Jarrett and his second wife, Martha Bowman. The 69-year-old is best known for winning the Daytona 500 three times, in 1993, 1996, and 2000. His only Cup title came in 1999.
He retired in 2008 and joined ESPN as a lead racing analyst. The 2014 Hall of Famer later joined NBC Sports in 2015 and has remained there ever since.
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Richard Petty mourns the loss of Ned Jarrett
Drivers Billy Wade, left, Richard Petty and Ned Jarrett check over the first place trophy for the NASCAR 200-lap late model race at the Fairgrounds Speedway on June 13, 1964. Petty, in a 1964 Plymouth, went on to win the feature race the next day.
Richard Petty shared his condolences after Ned Jarrett passed away. The two drivers were fierce rivals when they raced each other back in the 1960s.
“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,” Petty said in an X Post.
After Ned Jarrett retired at the age of 34, Petty went on to dominate NASCAR and captured 200 wins and seven Cup titles. He ultimately retired from full-time racing in 1992.
His son, Kyle Petty, also shared his grief for Jarrett’s passing. The former driver called him ‘one of the greats’ of NASCAR.
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