How Johnson feels with DJR out of homologation hot seat
Brodie Kostecki seized championship lead at Round 2 in Melbourne
Kostecki became first DJR driver since Scott McLaughlin to lead points
DJR won 14 races between 2021 and 2025 after McLaughlin/Penske era
Supercars Hall of Famer Dick Johnson believes his eponymous team is free to focus on wins following a mixed stint as Ford’s homologation team in Supercars.
The 2026 season is Dick Johnson Racing's first in seven seasons without carrying Supercars homologation team duties for Ford, which included managing Ford's Supercars engine program.
The team, which runs under the Shell V-Power Racing Team banner, duly hit the ground running in 2026. Brodie Kostecki seized the championship lead in Melbourne, winning three of four races.
In claiming the Larry Perkins Trophy, Kostecki opened up a 28-point lead heading to New Zealand, following incidents for Ford rivals Broc Feeney and Matt Payne.
It brought DJR back to the top of the championship, a feeling the famous Ford squad hadn't enjoyed since Scott McLaughlin led the team to glory in 2020 in the DJR Team Penske era.
While carrying Ford homologation team duties, DJR went on a rollercoaster in the years since; after winning 56 races and three titles between 2017 and 2020. The team won 14 races between 2021 and 2025, even going winless in 2024.
"We've just got to keep focusing. Fortunately this year we haven’t had outside distractions like we've had in the past," Johnson told Supercars.com.
“And to be quite honest, I think we are now just solely focused on winning races and getting out there and working as a team.”
Kostecki arrived in 2025 and immediately made his presence felt, claiming dual poles in New Zealand. His first win came in Townsville, before he added two more in Tailem Bend and Adelaide.
Johnson suggested Kostecki a renewed force in 2026, claiming he has never seen a driver as determined as the 2023 Supercars champion. Such has been Kostecki's ominous start, that he has spent 59% of all racing laps in the top three positions.
“It's been a while since we've had the orange number on the windscreen of the 17 car, and boy, that makes me feel really, really proud,” Johnson said.
“Brodie's done a magnificent job and he's certainly in the zone now. We've got a really good trainer with him. He's really fit now and I tell you what, you've never seen anyone so hungry as Brodie.
"I never sort of was intimidated by anyone. But I can see it now where guys look in the mirror and they see Brodie and think, 'oh no, not him behind me’."
Kostecki will resume his 2026 campaign at the ITM Taupō Super 440 on April 10-12.
