DJR announces new ownership
Dick Johnson Racing has announced the Ralph family has become majority shareholders in the Ford squad, starting from January 2023.
Their interest will be held through the Melbourne Aces Baseball Club.
It adds to the Aces' sporting portfolio, which includes the Melbourne Storm NRL club and the Sunshine Coast Lightning Super Netball club.
Dick Johnson and Ryan Story will continue to hold a significant share in the business.
Johnson and Story will both maintain their day-to-day positions and will oversee operations.
The team currently races under the Shell V-Power Racing Team banner.
DJR is the fourth team since the beginning of 2021 to undergo an ownership change.
DJR is the oldest team in Supercars
Tony Quinn became a major shareholder in Triple Eight last January.
In the same month, the Grove Group bought into Kelly Racing, before taking over the team from 2022.
PremiAir Racing was born out of Team Sydney, which was bought by Peter Xiberras in the off-season.
DJR was founded by Johnson in 1980, and he achieved the championship-Bathurst double just a year later.
The team has been based in Stapylton since the late 1990s.
It’s the third major ownership reshuffle for the team in a decade.
In late 2014, Roger Penske purchased a 51 per cent shareholding interest in the team, which rebranded as DJR Team Penske.
Between 2015 and 2020, the team won over 50 races, three titles and a Bathurst 1000.
Penske sold his stake in the team to Ryan Story in late 2020, with the DJR name restored.
'We are honoured to join Dick Johnson Racing'
Family figurehead Brett Ralph is a director of the Sunshine Coast Lightning (netball), Melbourne United (basketball) and the Australian Baseball League.
He is also Chairman of the Melbourne Aces Baseball Club.
Story was delighted to welcome the Ralph family to the team.
"I am excited to announce today the team’s partnership with the Ralph family," Story said.
"Brett and the Ralph family are strategic investors at DJR, with the current management structure we have in place continuing to run the business day to day as they have been.
"Brett and the Ralph family are fantastic people, and we couldn’t imagine partnering with anyone else.
"They are extremely experienced business people with a passion for sport that is undeniable.
"From the moment I first spoke with Brett he and I just clicked, and I knew we would have a fantastic working relationship."
Johnson was delighted to continue retain the family culture of the team.
DJR has won over 140 races, all with Ford
"Jillie and I are excited to welcome the Ralph family in to Dick Johnson Racing," the Supercars Hall of Famer said.
"We are immensely proud of the family culture we have created at DJR.
"To be working with a family who have the same values and views is extremely exciting and confidence-instilling."
Brett Ralph added: "On behalf of the Ralph family, we are honoured to join Dick Johnson Racing as a majority shareholder.
"We are very excited to be part of Australia’s most iconic race team who has winning in its culture, just like all of our other business ventures and partnerships."
Shell V-Power Racing Team’s 2022 campaign will continue this weekend at Sandown.
Anton De Pasquale and Will Davison are third and fourth respectively in the drivers' standings.
The Shell V-Power Racing Team is second in the teams' standings.
Cars will hit the track at Sandown on Friday. Purchase your tickets now.
