With NASCAR champion bloodlines, Jason Jarrett was destined to be involved in racing. Since the late 1990s, Jason has worked on his own racing career, taking advantage of the guidance provided by his championship winning dad, Dale, as well as from his two-time NASCAR champion grandfather Ned. For years, Dale Jarrett has watched over his son's career, offering guidance, advice and sometimes support. While the father continues to watch out for his son, the roles have somewhat swapped - at least when it comes to the race track - as Jason is now the one responsible for watching out for his dad on race day as the spotter for the #88 UPS Team.
Born into motorsports, it was only natural for Jason to get involved in the sport of auto racing. While his driving career is currently on hold, he finds himself at the race track but in an alternative capacity.
Midway through the 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup season, Jason took on the position of spotting for his dad beginning with the Nextel Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway in early June. While Jason has served as spotter for other drivers, he has found the new job somewhat challenging at times. Such was the case a few weeks ago when Jason found himself spotting at a track where he had never raced nor visited - the road course of Infineon Raceway.
"Considering it being my first time spotting for a road course, and being unfamiliar with the track, Infineon was a challenge," Jarrett said of the activities he has encountered.
While it may seem an odd pairing - a driver spotting for another driver - Dale Jarrett says it is an ideal situation.
"I know I have said this before but a lot of times drivers make for really good spotters," Jarrett said. "Someone who drives knows what it's like in the race car and is very aware of the kind of information a driver wants when in the race car. It's just a situation of a driver that is spotting has been in that position and has a good feel for what needs to be communicated from the spotter's stand."
"I know from a driver's standpoint it creates a level of comfort knowing that you have someone spotting for you not only that you trust, but who has been in your position and knows what you're up against on the track," he added.
To prove Jarrett's point, one only has to look atop the spotter stand any given weekend to see the number of drivers that moonlight as spotters. Many former Nextel Cup drivers, current Busch Series or Truck Series drivers have found Sunday jobs spotting for drivers currently competing in the Nextel Cup Series. Tim Fedewa, a former Busch Series regular, currently spots for rookie driver Clint Bowyer. Former Busch Series champion David Green, who served as the spotter for Jarrett during the first part of the 2002 NASCAR season, will spot from time-to-time on Sundays for different drivers on an as-needed basis.
Aside from his weekend job of spotting, Jason is heavily involved in his family's driving school, the Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure, based out of Newton, N.C. From time-to-time, Jason still competes in ARCA events when the opportunity develops. While his goal is to get back behind the wheel of a race car full time, he is content with the activities in which he is currently involved.
"It's really nice to get back to the track and be involved somehow," said Jason of his new position spotting. "Spotting, next to driving, would be something I'd like to keep doing in the future."
