McLaughlin 'forever grateful' to Rogers after big career call

Scott McLaughlin has penned a long tribute to Garry Rogers, saying he "wouldn’t be where I am today" without the late driver turned team owner.

Rogers passed away overnight. He was 80.

The popular long-time owner and former racer handed debuts to many future stars, namely McLaughlin, Jamie Whincup and Garth Tander.

McLaughlin shot to stardom with GRM, winning as a rookie in 2013, before helping GRM's Volvo project fire to immediate success.

A big deal from DJR Team Penske came calling, and McLaughlin made the tough call to leave Rogers behind. However, the veteran owner was supportive of the young Kiwi, who went on to win three championships and the 2019 Bathurst 1000.

McLaughlin penned a long tribute, one of many special comments for Rogers, saying his advice and guidance set him up for life.

"You were a tough bugger but you taught me how to be myself, to be comfortable with the media and the fans, to drive a race car without getting distracted by little things out of my control, to never give up," McLaughlin wrote.

"You taught me how to treat the guys and girls on my team with respect and how to get the most out of them along with being tough. You made sure I looked after my girls and made sure I had a life off the track as much as I did on the track."

McLaughlin was thrust into a main game debut for the final race of 2012, replacing an ill Alex Premat just hours after wrapping up that year's Super2 crown.

The next year saw the Kiwi promoted to a full-time seat, where he promptly won with GRM as a teenager on home soil at Pukekohe, before adding another victory at Queensland Raceway.

He remained with the team as it shifted to Volvo, and McLaughlin duly defeated Whincup in a battle for the ages in Adelaide, in what was Volvo's second Supercars start.

Between 2013 and 2016, McLaughlin claimed eight wins, 17 pole positions and 26 podiums in GRM colours.

The move to DJR Team Penske was polarising, yet proved a masterstroke as McLaughlin became class of the field. However, Rogers's faith in McLaughlin never waned.

"I remember leaving to join Penske, you had nothing but good words and good wishes for me, always keeping in touch and texting me the right stuff whenever you knew I needed it. We regularly kept in contact and I’m forever grateful for that," McLaughlin continued.

"If it wasn’t for Garry Rogers I wouldn’t be where I am today, he gave me and so many others a shot to make it, good or bad. He loved a Jameson, fair to say I’ll have a couple for you today. Gonna miss ya, but I know you would be telling me, 'Scotty - stop with the soppy crap and get on with the job right, good'. "Until I see you again mate for a feed and a beer. Rest in Peace Chief Bro."