The Ralph family has been announced as becoming a majority shareholders of Dick Johnson Racing, joining Ryan Storey and team founder Dick Johnson in ownership of the team beginning in January next year.
Under the interest of the Melbourne Aces Baseball Club, the Ralph family also have the Melbourne Storm NRL team and Netball’s Sunshine Coast Lightning in the Ralph family portfolio.
Johnson and Story will continue to hold a significant share in the business, which recently went through another ownership change when Roger Penske sold his 51 percent share back to the latter after 50 victories, three championships and a Bathurst win during a six season stint.
It follows an era of change for Supercars as itself shifted ownership to the RACE consortium in 2021, while Grove Racing, Triple Eight Race Engineering and PremiAir Racing all have experienced a shift in owner structures in recent times.
The oldest team on the Repco Supercars Championship grid, DJR was formed in 1980 when Johnson began building an XD Falcon for Bathurst where infamously hit a rock while leading convincingly.
Since then, the Ford team has won multiple championships and taken Bathurst honours in its more than 40 year history.
Representing the Ralph family was figurehead Brett, who holds multiple roles including as Chairman for the Melbourne Aces Baseball Club in addition to director roles at Sunshine Coast Lightning, Melbourne United and the Australian Baseball League.
“On behalf of the Ralph family, we are honoured to join Dick Johnson Racing as a majority shareholder,” said Ralph.
“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.”
Story was delighted to reveal the Ralph family into DJR’s ownership structure.
“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 added he was excited to welcome another family interest into the fold.
“Jillie and I are excited to welcome the Ralph family in to Dick Johnson Racing,” Johnson 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.”
The announcement comes in the lead up to the next Repco Supercars Championship round at Sandown this weekend.