Dick Johnson Racing

Dick Johnson Racing is one of the most storied names in Australian motorsport, and if you know anything about this country’s racing history, the DJR name carries an almost sacred weight. Founded by five-time Australian Touring Car Champion Dick Johnson in 1980, the team carries the legacy of one of the sport’s greatest characters and most beloved figures. Operating as the Shell V-Power Racing Team from Stapylton on the Gold Coast, DJR fields Ford Mustangs and has been a powerhouse across multiple eras. The partnership with Team Penske from 2015 to 2020 delivered multiple championships and transformed the operation, and that legacy continues to drive everything they do.

Team History

Dick Johnson’s racing career is inseparable from the history of Australian touring car racing, full stop. His famous rock incident at Bathurst in 1980 — when he struck a boulder that had fallen on the track while leading the race in his Tru-Blu Ford Falcon — became one of the most iconic moments in the sport’s history. The outpouring of public support that followed helped rebuild the car and launched a career that saw Johnson win five Australian Touring Car Championships. His team became a permanent fixture on the grid, surviving through eras of both triumph and financial hardship with the same resilience that defined Johnson’s driving style.

The partnership with American racing legend Roger Penske from 2015 breathed new life into the organisation, and the transformation was remarkable. Penske’s resources, engineering expertise, and professional standards turned DJR from a mid-grid battler into a championship-winning operation. Scott McLaughlin delivered three consecutive drivers’ championships from 2018 to 2020 — one of the most dominant stretches in Supercars history — and won the 2019 Bathurst 1000 with a performance that is still talked about as one of the finest drives ever seen at Mount Panorama. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.

Recent Form and Gen3 Era

Following Penske’s withdrawal from the day-to-day partnership, DJR has continued to compete at the front under team principal Ryan Story. The team serves as the Ford homologation team for the Gen3 Ford Mustang, giving it a central role in the Blue Oval’s Supercars programme. Will Davison and Anton De Pasquale lead the driver lineup, bringing a blend of experience and speed to the Shell V-Power cars. The team’s relationship with Ford Australia remains one of the strongest manufacturer-team partnerships in the championship, and that bond runs deep.

Honours

Team Profile

Dick Johnson Racing competes as the Shell V-Power Racing Team in the Supercars Championship, fielding Ford Mustangs for Will Davison and Anton De Pasquale. With a history stretching back to 1980 and the legendary Dick Johnson’s five touring car titles, the team is one of the most recognisable and respected names in Australian motorsport. Some teams have history — DJR is history.

NC — Staff sports writer, australiafootball.com