Can Dick Johnson Racing still be a Supercars powerhouse without Penske?

Roger Penske’s whirlwind Australian Supercars sojourn is over. After six seasons, three drivers’ titles, three teams’ championships and a Bathurst 1000 crown, The Captain has sold his controlling stake in Dick Johnson Racing back to the squad and walked away from the category.

Given that his input helped DJR reclaim its powerhouse status, it’s natural that Penske’s departure has cast doubt over the immediate future of a team we’ve become so used to seeing at the front of the field. The question is: will DJR still be a Supercars heavyweight in its first post-Penske season?

To properly gauge what the Penske exit means for Dick Johnson Racing, you need to look at what Team Penske brought to it in the first place.

When Penske took a 51% stake in DJR ahead of the 2015 season, the team was in a bad way. The glory days had