Dick Johnson took on the Europeans at the 1988 RAC Tourist Trophy, then with the aid of supporter Ross Palmer battled the ol’ boys of NASCAR the next year and accidentally called one of its stars a ‘prick’.
Johnson started his campaign at home as Calder Park hosted the first NASCAR race to be conducted outside of the US, but the event ended early for Johnson when he was involved in a heavy multi-car wreck on lap 80, which also took out touring car rival Allan Grice.
Not stopping at Calder Park, Johnson also entered various NASCAR events during 1989 and 1990 featuring RaceCam on many occasions of which he made famous in Australia.
Future NASCAR champion crew chief Ray Evernham guided Johnson through his part-time campaign starting at Sears Point in 1989.
Qualifying 11th, Johnson was quick and only slow pit stops delayed the Australian.
RaceCam provided plenty of colour as Johnson was tipped into a spin by Richard Petty and responded by exclaiming “what a prick” only for this ton be broadcast through ESPN’s live coverage.
Laps later, a slip on oil and subsequent collision with a tyre barrier led to a customary Johnson slip of the tongue. When interviewed following the incident while waiting for the recovery team he said, “I’m just waiting for these turkeys to lift me off here, all I want to do is get back and have a go.”
Oval races proved difficult to qualify at, while Watkins Glen led to a broken shoulder and dislocated knee when a tyre let go putting Johnson into the fence hard.
Johnson did have the bonus of being passed by Cole Trickle from the Days of Thunder movie during the 1990 season.
Although Johnson’s NASCAR experiment stayed only part-time, Johnson did win the 1989 Australian Touring Car Championship in his more familiar Shell-backed Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth.