Ned Jarrett, a household name in the world of NASCAR, is not just a racing legend but also a family man. He has been married twice, and is a father of three children; Glenn Jarrett, Dale Jarrett, and Patricia. While his youngest and only daughter upholds a private life, his two sons have long pursued successful careers in car racing sport.
While you’ll soon learn about Ned’s marriages and children, his professional life doesn’t need so much introduction. The retired race car driver and broadcaster left an indelible mark on the sport of auto racing. He was a two-time NASCAR Grand National Series champion who was largely involved in every aspect of professional auto racing.
Ned Jarrett was Married Twice
Olene Rebecca Proctor was the First Wife of Ned Jarrett
Ned’s first marriage was to Olene Rebecca Proctor. There are no established records of how the pair met and when their relationship blossomed. What is known however is that they got married in 1933.
The pair remained married for a few years and mostly kept their relationship from the public. Before they divorced, the former couple had a son, Glenn. Following their privacy they maintained, that there are no details on what may have caused their divorce.
Ned’s Second Wife was Martha Ruth Bowman
In 1956, Ned married his second wife, Martha Ruth Bowman, a native of Catawba County. The couple tied the knot on February 18, 1956, in Catawba County, North Carolina and their wedding ceremony was witnessed by a number of close friends and family members.
They shared 46 years as a couple and in these years, Ned and his second wife Martha welcomed two children Dale Jarrett and Patricia Jarrett Makar.
Tragically, Ned lost his second wife, Martha, in 2023. She passed away at the age of 91 in Newton, North Carolina. While not so much about her professional life is known, we gathered that she was a beloved member of her community and an active member of Beth Eden Lutheran Church. She was also known for her love of golf and her dedication to her family.
Martha was surrounded by her loved ones when she passed away and is survived by her husband Ned Miller Jarrett, her sons Glenn N. Jarrett and Dale A. Jarrett, her daughter, Patti J. Makar as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Ned Jarrett is a Father of Three Children
As earlier stated, Ned Jarrett is the proud father of three children – Glenn, Dale, and Patricia. Each of his children has carved their own path in life, with Glenn finding success as a NASCAR driver and later as a pit reporter, Dale becoming a NASCAR legend and Daytona 500 champion, and Patricia leading a more private life with her family.
Glenn Ned Jarrett
Glenn Ned Jarrett is the eldest son of Ned and the product of his first marriage to Olene. He was born on August 11, 1950, in Conover, North Carolina, and he’s 74 years old at the moment.
Growing up, Glenn found passion in racing and like his father, he became a NASCAR driver in the late 70s. He made 10 Winston Cup starts from 1978 to 1983, with a best finish of 12th at Ontario Motor Speedway.
While his Cup Series appearances were limited, Glenn demonstrated his talent in the Busch Series, where he competed from 1982 to 1993. He notched 67 starts, securing a best finish of fourth and finishing 13th in the 1984 series points.
In the following years, Glenn’s contributions to NASCAR extended beyond just being a driver. He transitioned into broadcasting and served as a pit reporter for TNN. He would later work for Speed Channel before settling as a pit reporter for MRN radio coverage.
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Dale Jarrett
Dale Arnold Jarrett is the second child of Ned with his now late wife, Martha. He was born on November 26, 1956, in Conover, North Carolina and he’s 67 years old. Like his father and brother, he also pursued a racing career and became a successful NASCAR driver himself.
His career began in 1977 in the Limited Sportsman Division at Hickory Motor Speedway, where his father was the track’s promoter. With his natural abilities and determination towards the sport, it wasn’t long before he made a name in the game.
In the early 1980s, Dale began competing in the NASCAR Busch Series, where he honed his driving skills. His big break came in 1990 when he received a call from the Wood Brothers, one of NASCAR’s oldest and most respected teams. With the team, he won his first NASCAR Winston Cup race in 1991 at Michigan International Speedway. He continued to record success with the Joe Gibbs Racing team.
In 1995, Dale made the decision to join Robert Yates Racing, where he experienced even greater success. He won the NASCAR Winston Cup Championship in 1999, becoming only the second father-son combination, along with his father Ned and Lee and Richard Petty, to win championships in NASCAR’s premier series.
Dale’s achievements extend beyond championships. He also won the coveted Daytona 500 three times, the Brickyard 400, and numerous other prestigious races which later earned him a place in the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2014. He retired from racing in 2008 and became a NASCAR commentator for NBC Sports.
As for his personal life, he has been married to Kelly Jarrett since 22 June 1984 and the couple are parents of three children including Zach Jarrett and Jason Jarrett. The former is a professional baseball outfielder who currently plays for the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball while the latter briefly pursued a career in car racing as per IMDb.
Patricia Jarrett
The youngest child of Ned and Martha is Patricia Dawn Jarrett. She was born on August 31, 1959, and she’s 65 years old. Compared to her brothers, she has mostly stayed away from the spotlight, and little is known about her. However, it is known that she is married to Jimmy Makar, who served as Dale’s crew chief for three years at Joe Gibbs Racing, helping him achieve numerous victories, including the 2000 Daytona 500.
Aside from Jimmy’s professional career in sports, he also doubles as the father of Patricia’s two children.
Even though Patti as mostly called, may not have pursued a career in racing like her father and brothers, she has undoubtedly played a significant role in supporting her family’s racing endeavors. While they were still active, she had been spotted cheering them up from the crowd.
