MARTINSVILLE, VA - NOVEMBER 01: NASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett speaks with the media during a press conference prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 at Martinsville Speedway on November 1, 2015 in Martinsville, Vir …
Ned Jarrett, a two-time NASCAR premier-series champion and a member of the Hall of Fame, has died.
According to NASCAR, he was 93 years old.
Ned Jarrett's death
What they're saying:
Jarrett's family said he died Thursday, "peacefully of natural causes at his home in Newton, North Carolina, with his family by his side."
RELATED: Kyle Busch's wife opens up after NASCAR legend's death: 'Our hearts are absolutely shattered'
"Our father was a devout Christian and a devoted, loving family man," his family's statement continued. "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."
Ned Jarrett's career
The backstory:
According to NASCAR, Jarrett won championships in 1961 and 1965 in what's known today as the NASCAR Cup Series. He was also a two-time Sportsman champion, NASCAR said, with consecutive titles in 1957 and 1958. In 1956, he finished second to Ralph Earnhardt.
In 1965, he set the record for the premier series' largest margin of victory, winning the 1965 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway by 14 laps. The record still holds today.
Jarrett had 50 wins in 352 starts over his 13-year career. In 1965, Jarrett broke his back in a crash at Greenville-Pickens Speedway, which led to him retiring at 34.
"Despite his calm demeanor, ‘Gentleman’ Ned Jarrett was as fierce a competitor as NASCAR has ever seen," NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell said in a statement. "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."
The Source: This report includes information from NASCAR.