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United States Ned Jarrett is a two-time NASCAR Grand National Series champion and an influential motorsports broadcaster.
A well-known brand that was one of Ned Jarrett's main sponsors in his early racing days.
Strengthened relationship with NASCAR through various partnerships, including for the 2025 season.
Owner of the Chevrolet car that Ned Jarrett drove to his first series title.
DuPont heir Bondy Long was the owner of the team Ned Jarrett drove for during his 1965 championship season.
Ned Jarrett served as a radio broadcaster for MRN Radio, hosting 'Ned Jarrett's World of Racing' until 2009.
Ned Jarrett was a television broadcaster for CBS, serving as a pit reporter and later as a color analyst from 1979 to 2000.
Ned Jarrett worked as a color analyst for ESPN from 1988 to 2000.
Ned Jarrett was a host for the original 'Inside Winston Cup Racing' on TNN.
Clint Bowyer honored Ned Jarrett with a Darlington throwback scheme on his No. 14 Carolina Ford Dealers Ford Fusion, mimicking Jarrett's 1965 Ford Galaxie.
Ned Jarrett, born on October 12, 1932, in Conover, North Carolina, developed an early interest in automobiles. His racing career began in 1952 at Hickory Motor Speedway, where he co-owned a Sportsman Series Ford and finished tenth. Initially racing under an assumed name, ‘John Lence,’ to avoid his father’s disapproval, Jarrett was eventually discovered after winning a race. His father then encouraged him to race under his own name. Jarrett continued his early career by becoming the 1955 track champion at Hickory Motor Speedway and securing Sportsman Series championships in both 1957 and 1958.
In 1959, Jarrett transitioned to the Grand National Series, purchasing a Junior Johnson Ford for $2,000. He quickly proved his racing skill, winning two races to cover the cost of his car. His dedication culminated in five race wins in 1960. He then achieved his first Grand National Championship in 1961, participating in 46 races and securing 22 top-five and 34 top-ten finishes. In 1962, Jarrett sold his championship-winning Chevrolet to Wendell Scott, NASCAR’s first African-American driver. He continued to compete, notably driving a hybrid Ford to a third-place finish in the 1963 Daytona 500, marking a turning point in his career.
The years 1964 and 1965 were particularly successful for Jarrett. In 1964, partnering with team owner Bondy Long and backed by Ford, he achieved 15 victories, including his first superspeedway win at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This success was followed by a stellar 1965 season where he won 13 races and his second Grand National Championship. He achieved 42 top-five finishes in 54 starts, including a historic 14-lap victory at the 1965 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, which remains the largest margin of victory in NASCAR Cup Series history. Jarrett retired from racing at the age of 34 in 1966, following Ford’s withdrawal from NASCAR, making him the only driver to retire as a reigning NASCAR champion. Subsequently, he transitioned into a highly successful career as a motorsports broadcaster, further cementing his legacy in the sport.
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