IS DJR SALE CLOSE?
By Auto Action
Date posted: 15 July 2022
Poor health forcing team saviour to look for new owner.
By Andrew Clarke
THE OLDEST team in Supercars, Dick Johnson Racing, could be heading for new ownership.
And it’s more likely to happen sooner than later.
Dr Ryan Story, who saved the squad from oblivion and then was pivotal in drawing the Roger Penske involvement that put it back to the top of Supercars, is believed to be looking for a way our of DJR because of his health concerns.
He has been the financial bedrock for the team for a decade and restructured the operation last year when Penske withdrew from Supercars.
It’s unclear if Story is looking to sell his share or per cent of DJR.
Despite denials from Dick Johnson and a resolute ‘no comment’ from Rob Herrod, who is a key player inside the team and was appointed by Story as general manager last year, Auto Action believes the sale has either been completed or is going through its final steps.
Story has always wanted to protect the longevity of the team and its workforce but has been looking for a way out in recent months.
Story’s health has been such an issue of late that he is rarely at the track or the workshop, prompting Will Davison to give him a shout-out on Saturday after claiming second in the first leg of the Townsville.
There has been talk for months about the ownership status of the team and a potential sale, and rumours in Townsville had the deal effectively being done, although the new owner and the exact ownership structure is not clear.
“There is no sale. I think I would know,” is the only comment from Johnson.
Herrod had been a potential investor in the team when Penske left but, as he has a deal with Ford Motor Company in the USA to build the engines for the Gen Mustangs, he is prevented from holding a stake in any team.
While still working with the team and present in Townsville, Herrod declined to make any comment on ownership beyond saying any change that Story endorsed would be in the best interests of the team.
For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the current issue of Auto Action.
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