DJR finds unlikely ally in Triple Eight amid wheel drama

Dick Johnson Racing and Triple Eight Race Engineering have been arch rivals for years, yet there were signs of respect between the two camps on Saturday.

Will Davison left his pit bay with the right front wheel not fastened on the #17 Shell V-Power Mustang during Boost Mobile Qualifying. Davison stopped near the Triple Eight garage with the right front about to part company with the car.

"I don't know what they do now, they're going to have to drag it, the go-jacks won't get it back there," Supercars Hall of Famer Mark Skaife said in commentary.

As attention turned to Davison returning to the track, Skaife added: "Good job there by everybody at Shell V-Power Racing to run down to the end of the lane and sort that car out."

In fact, it was Triple Eight mechanics who jacked the car up so that DJR could fasten the wheel, and send Davison on his way.

In response to the news of Triple Eight helping DJR, with mechanics from both teams fist-bumping, Skaife quipped: "How times have changed."

The help wasn’t lost on DJR CEO David Noble, who told select media after the session: “You can’t thank them enough for jumping in and trying to help... they said they’d pull one out and allow Will to get back in, get out, and get back in for the last run. Otherwise, you’ve got to push him back."

Asked if the favour would be repaid to Triple Eight, Noble joked: “It won’t be on the race track."

DJR could yet be facing a sanction, while Davison was only 21st.

In a bright spot for the team, Brodie Kostecki claimed provisional pole and was fourth in the Shootout. However, Kostecki’s charge wasn’t without incident, with the #38 Ford sidelined on Friday with a steering rack issue.

Triple Eight will replace DJR as Ford's homologation team in 2026.