Big Chief, whose real name is Justin Shearer, was a prominent member of the cast of Street Outlaws since the show first began airing in 2013. However, he surprised fans by not participating in the last two seasons of Street Outlaws, and neither the racer nor the show’s team put out a statement about his sudden absence. Fans speculated that his lack of screen time was due to personal reasons, but many expected him to appear in the fourth season of No Prep Kings when it returned in the fall of 2021.

In March 2022, Big Chief shared a video on his YouTube channel talking about his reasons for leaving the show. He addressed the rumors circulating but said he ultimately decided to leave Street Outlaws because he disagreed with production. In his video, Big Chief shared he preferred the show to stay as “street as possible” while focusing on racing, and he didn’t feel comfortable as a racemaster if he had to uphold rules he didn’t think were best for the community.

Street Outlaws‘ cast member James Goad (also known as “Reaper,” after his racing car) uploaded a video in response to Big Chief’s clarification where he questioned Big Chief’s claims as well as the racemaster’s character. In the 40-minute video, Goad accuses Big Chief of being manipulative and making the show uncomfortable for him and the other racers.

It is uncertain whether or not Big Chief will resolve his issues with the shows production. In the meantime, he has continued to share some street racing-related content on both Instagram and on his YouTube channel, Midwest Street Cars.