Ned Jarrett's Biography

Ned Jarrett is part of one of the oldest families connected with NASCAR racing.  He was born on the 12th of October 1932 in the heart of stock car country in Newton, North Carolina.  He was one of four children and lived with his parents on their farm, even so Ned was introduced to cars at a very young age, from the age of nine Ned was allowed to drive the family to church on Sunday mornings.  This was the start of his love of cars and of driving. 

Ned started his working life with his brother and father in the family lumber business at 17 but racing was what he really wanted to do.  He and his brother in law owned a Sportsman Ford that his brother I law would drive at the racetrack.  Ned's parents were very against Ned taking part in racing, telling him he could work on the cars but he was not to race them. 

In May of 1952 his brother in law was taken ill but was set to take part in a race so asked if Ned could fill in for him, Ned agreed and he drove in his first race in Hickory, North Carolina under his brother in law's name, and finished 10th in a Sportsman Ford. This worked well, his parents didn't know what was going on so he carried on racing under assumed names until finally he won a race and his father found out that he had been driving In races his father told him that if he was going to race at least do it under his own name.  Given the green light by his father Ned drove in his first national race at Darlington Speedway, in 1953, dropping out after ten laps due to an oil leakage.  Undeterred he continued to race and became the 1955 track champion at Hickory Motor Speedway, came second driving in the Sportsman Series in 1956 and won the championship in both 1957 and 1958. 

1959 saw Ned looking to start a career in the Grand National Series, now the Sprint Cup Series and needing a new car Ned bought a Junior Johnson Ford for $2000 but had to win the next two races, which he did, to pay for it. 

In 1960 he won five races and became the champion in 1961, he gained twenty two Top Five positions and thirty four Top Ten positions. His awards include:- Grand National Champion in 1961 and 1965, Myers Brothers Memorial Award in 1964, 1965, 1982 and 1983, National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame in 1972, North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in1990, International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1991, Oceanside Rotary Club Stock Car Hall of Fame in 1992, National Auto Racing Hall of Fame (United States) in 1992, American Auto Race Writers & Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in1992, Jacksonville, Florida Speedway Hall of Fame in 1993, Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in1997, Talladega Walk of Fame in 1997, Named as one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998, Hickory Metro Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 and Inductee in NASCAR's Hall of Fame in 2011.

Ned, nicknamed "Gentleman Ned", was well known for his calm and pleasant demeanour and in 1964 was presented with a Heroism Award for his efforts in pulling Fireball Roberts from a flaming car. Ned, able to escape from his car uninjured, ran to help Roberts, who was unwilling to wear a uniform dipped in fire retardant chemicals -- the only protection available at that time against fire -- because it affected his breathing. Fireball was wearing just a T-shirt and jeans."I got to him as soon as I could and the first thing he said was, 'Oh my God, Ned. I'm on fire. Please help me,'" Jarrett later said. "His pants were burning but I got as much of that out as I could before the firemen got there." 

In 1966 Ned retired from nascar racing at the age of thirty four.  A master of the short track, Jarrett had 50 Grand National victories, only two of them on super speedways his experience and love of NASCAR racing landed him a job as manager at one of NASCAR'S most popular tracks, The Hickory, NC Speedway for nine years, 1968 - 1977. He was named "Promoter of the Year" twice during that span. At that time he also started an auto racing broadcasting career which exceeded his driving career in years of participation.

Many people say his contributions to the sport while broadcasting equalled those made during his driving career. Since retiring, Ned has become one of NASCAR's greatest ambassadors. He's also considered instrumental to the sport's growth through his second career as a broadcaster.  He and his wife Martha still live in the country approximately 6 miles from where he grew up.  Ned and Martha have two sons, Glenn and Dale, and one daughter, Patti J. Makar.  They also have 6 grandchildren, and one great grandson.