Dale Jarrett

Dale Jarrett is a retired American professional stock car driver and current television race commentator, who is best known for winning the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship. As a second-generation driver, he carved out his own legendary career, highlighted by three Daytona 500 victories and a reputation as one of the smoothest and most respected drivers of his era.

Listen to an introduction about Dale Jarrett

Name: Dale Arnold Jarrett

Date of Birth: November 26, 1956

Height: 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)

Place of Birth: Conover, North Carolina, U.S.

Family:

Spouse: Kelley Jarrett
Children: Jason, Natalee, Karsyn, and Zach
Parents: Ned Jarrett (father) and Martha Jarrett (mother). His father is a two-time NASCAR Grand National champion and Hall of Famer.

Profession: Professional Stock Car Driver (retired), Television Race Analyst

Nationality: American

Religion: Christian

College or University Attended: University of South Carolina

Biography and What Famous For:

The son of NASCAR legend Ned Jarrett, Dale Jarrett initially pursued a different path, playing golf at the University of South Carolina. However, the pull of the racetrack was too strong, and he followed his father into professional racing in the late 1970s. Jarrett’s early career was a slow build, driving for a number of different teams before getting his big break.

His career-defining moment came in the 1993 Daytona 500. Driving the No. 18 car for the young Joe Gibbs Racing team, Jarrett battled Dale Earnhardt in the final laps. In one of NASCAR’s most iconic broadcast moments, his father, Ned, called the final lap from the CBS broadcast booth, famously shouting “It’s the Dale and Dale show!” as his son powered past Earnhardt to win “The Great American Race.”

Jarrett’s greatest success came after joining Robert Yates Racing in 1995 to drive the No. 88 Ford Thunderbird, sponsored by Ford Quality Care. He won the Daytona 500 again in 1996 and 2000, and also captured two victories in the prestigious Brickyard 400 (1996, 1999). The pinnacle of his career was the 1999 season, where he won four races and held off a strong challenge from Bobby Labonte to win the NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship.

Dale Jarrett is famous for his smooth, calculated driving style, his success in NASCAR’s biggest races, and for carrying on his family’s championship legacy. After retiring from driving in 2008, he seamlessly transitioned into a new role as a respected television analyst, where he provides commentary for NBC Sports’ NASCAR coverage.