Tommy Russell, who co-ran DP4 Racing, passed away on Friday. The series will proceed with the third round of its 2026 campaign at Slash X in Barstow on Saturday, “because we know that’s exactly what Tommy would’ve wanted. Honestly, he’d be angry if we shut it down. He loved this community, he loved race day, and he would never want people sitting at home instead of being together in the desert.”

DP4, short for Desert Productions 4, was founded and operated by Russell alongside his close friends Steve Argubright and Ryan Sanders. The series is a side-by-side championship currently on a five-race calendar from Ridgecrest to Johnson Valley.

While Argubright oversaw the course and Sanders the media side, Russell’s main responsibility was leading the organization and decision making.

“Tommy wasn’t just the owner of DP4… he was the heart behind it,” reads a series statement. “The guy in the middle of the chaos making things happen, helping racers, talking smack, making people laugh, and creating a place that felt like family for so many people.

“DP4 will never be the same without him. The desert is going to feel a little quieter.”

Due to the circumstances, the draw for starting positions was canceled on Friday night. Instead, the start order will be drawn during Saturday morning registration.

“This weekend, we race for Tommy,” continues the post. “For every late night, every handshake, every joke over the radio, every start line, every lap, every time he got fired up yelling across the pits, and everything he poured into DP4.”

Featured image credit: DP4 Racing