Photo: Jim Beam Racing

Dick Johnson Racing’s future secured

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The Dick Johnson Racing team has annouced it’s secured its future after recent ownership trouble, with Charlie Schwerkolt leaving his share of the team to Dick Johnson.

In a statement from the team, DJR confirm that Charlie Schwerkolt, who came onboard as an investor to the team at the beginning of 2008, will be pursuing other interests outside of motorsport.

“It’s great to finally be able to lay our cards on the table,” said team principal Dick Johnson.

“It’s taken us some time to get to this point; there were a number of issues that required working through to ensure we were making the right decisions for the future of the team.”

Sponsor Crimsafe now comes on board as a minor partner, whilst Jim Beam will continue on as the team’s naming rights sponsor in 2011.

“Nothing has changed,” said Johnson.

“Beam has been with us for four years and they have played a large part in getting us to where we are now.

“It’s been a fantastic partnership and we are really thrilled with their announcement today that they will continue as our naming rights partner in 2011.”

The motor racing legend said that next year’s driver line-up would not be announced until after the 2010 season was completed.

“We’ve come to Sydney with one thing on our mind and that’s winning the Drivers Championship,” Johnson said.

“Once we achieve that we’ll have a look at what’s happening next year.

“We want to enjoy where we are now; these opportunities don’t come around too often.

“James [Courtney] has done a terrific job for us and I am incredibly proud of him and the entire Jim Beam Racing Team.

“We will go into 2011 confident in the future of Dick Johnson Racing.

“We’ve been around for 30 years and we plan to be here for 30 more.”

Dick Johnson Racing has secured second place behind Triple Eight Race Engineering in the teams’ championship this season, and will be the top team running Ford’s.

James Courtney will in a worst case scenario be second in the drivers’ championship, but is more likely set to win the first drivers’ title for the team since 1995 in the final race on Sunday.