“THIS is a whole lot more fun.”
After years of pain, things are coming together for Dick Johnson Racing.
The team’s five wins thus far in 2026 is more than DJR achieved across the first three seasons of the Gen3 era.
The changeover in regulations coincided with fresh ownership taking effect, the Ralph brothers having acquired an 80 percent stake in the famous Ford squad as of January 2023.
Brett Ralph has been the more visible of the brothers in the period since, with his brother Shaun making sporadic appearances when able to venture out from his base nowadays in Dallas, Texas.
Brett Ralph. Pic: Mark Walker
Shaun was on the ground for both legs of Supercars’ New Zealand doubleheader, so V8 Sleuth took the opportunity to catch up with him amid Brodie Kostecki’s roaring start to the year.
After all, he was adamant that success would be merely a matter of time, and that time appears to be now.
“This is a whole lot more fun. It’s just really good to see the guys get the reward for all the hard work they have done,” Shaun Ralph told V8 Sleuth.
“There has been a lot of work, we have had a lot of turnover.
“Mark Fenning put a plan in place and now we’re starting to see the results. Very happy.
“Brodie has put himself in a great spot for the championship but as we know it all starts again come finals.
“And we feel like we’re in a good spot for Bathurst. We like our chances.”
The Ralphs, via their Jet Couriers business, are involved in several professional sporting organisations, giving them a broader perspective on what makes Kostecki so special.
“Focus, determination. In some ways he is 28 going on 40,” said Shaun.
“He just has this singlemindedness to achieve what he wants to achieve.
“And confidence. He is super confident in his own ability and confident in the ability of the team around him.”
Kostecki, the 2023 champion, holds second in the standings after a controversial Christchurch incident with Chaz Mostert cost him the points lead.
Pic: Supplied/Mark Horsburgh