Justin “Big Chief” Shearer, the legendary face of Street Outlaws, has broken his months-long silence and delivered a bombshell that is shaking the racing world to its core. In a stunning and long-awaited statement, Big Chief has finally named the five members of the Street Outlaws franchise he hated the most, exposing deepseated rivalries and betrayals that have festered for years behind the scenes. The revelation, which emerged from a candid video posted to his social media channels, has sent shockwaves through the fan base and cast alike, laying bare the fractures that ultimately led to his abrupt departure from the show that made him a household name.
Big Chief’s list includes his former right-hand man Shawn “Murder Nova” Ellington, the outspoken James “Reaper” Go, the fierce Precious Cooper, the dominant Kai Kelly, and the high-profile Richard Rawlings of Fast N’ Loud fame. Each name carries its own history of conflict, accusations, and broken trust, but together they paint a picture of a man who felt isolated and betrayed by the very community he helped build from the ground up. For years, fans speculated about the real reasons behind the bitter departures and tense relationships, but now Big Chief has confirmed what many suspected: the street racing brotherhood was never as united as the cameras made it seem
Shawn Ellington, better known as Murder Nova, was once Big Chief’s closest ally and co-founder of the iconic 405 crew. Their partnership stretched back well before the Discovery Channel cameras ever rolled, and together they built some of the most feared street cars in Oklahoma City. But the friendship began to crack as early as season three, when rumors of Shawn using nitrous oxide without disclosure first surfaced
The whispers grew louder in season six, with accusations of a hidden “leave button” that would give him an unfair launch advantage. Though nothing was ever proven, the strain became unbearable.
By January 2021, the duo officially split, with Big Chief later describing the rift as a fundamental clash of priorities. Shawn was moving toward a more balanced life, focusing on his business 187 Customs and his family, while Big Chief remained consumed by the relentless pursuit of street racing dominance. In interviews, Big Chief didn’t express bitterness but admitted they were simply headed in different directions.
However, the wound clearly ran deep enough to land Shawn at the top of his most hated list, a revelation that has left longtime fans mourning the end of an era.
Next on Big Chief’s list is James “Reaper” Go, a racer known for his blunt personality and his high-powered 1969 Chevrolet Camaro, Deez Nuts. Reaper became one of the most vocal critics of Big Chief, accusing him of manipulating the list and creating a toxic atmosphere that held other racers back. Using social media and YouTube, Reaper launched a public campaign against Chief, claiming the show had lost its way and that Big Chief was more interested in maintaining his own dominance than in fair competition.
Reaper’s criticisms didn’t go unanswered, and the tension between the two became a central storyline. Big Chief’s inclusion of Reaper on this list confirms that the animosity was mutual and enduring. Even after Reaper stepped away from the franchise in 2021, he continued to voice his grievances, insisting that the show had become a “TV circus” and that the original camaraderie had been replaced by producer-driven drama.
For Big Chief, Reaper represented everything that had gone wrong with the street racing culture he once loved
Precious Cooper, known as the Queen of the Streets, earned her spot on Big Chief’s list through a heated conflict that erupted during the filming of America’s List in early 2022. The dispute centered on the “Race Your Way In” format, which Big Chief and his partner Jackie Brash believed unfairly favored the Memphis crew, led by JJ Da Boss and including Precious. A tense argument between Precious and Jackie Brash during a taping session in Texas was the final straw, prompting Big Chief and Jackie to walk off the production entirely.
In a video titled “The Real Reason We Left America’s List,” Big Chief expressed deep dissatisfaction with what he saw as favoritism and producer manipulation that undermined the spirit of fair racing. Though he did not name Precious directly, the context made it clear she was at the center of the controversy. Precious remained publicly silent, but her role in the events that led to Big Chief’s departure has now been cemented as one of the primary grievances that drove him away from the franchise.
Kai Kelly, the Mississippi-born racer who famously defeated Big Chief in multiple off-camera cash days, is another name on the list. Kelly’s dominance in no-prep street races, particularly with his jet-black 1992 Camaro known as The Shocker, made him a genuine threat to Big Chief’s reign. For years, Big Chief struggled to beat Kelly, and when he finally scored a victory during America’s List in 2021, it was immediately clouded by rumors that he had used data allegedly shared by fellow racer Ryan Martin to gain an advantage
Big Chief downplayed the controversy, but the tension between the two racers was palpable. Kelly’s outsider status and his consistent wins over Chief struck at the heart of Big Chief’s identity as the top dog. Including Kelly on this list underscores the deep frustration Big Chief felt toward a racer who not only beat him repeatedly but also represented a shift in the street racing hierarchy that Chief could no longer control.
Richard Rawlings, the founder of Gas Monkey Garage and star of Fast N’ Loud, rounds out the list. Their conflict erupted in early 2017 when Rawlings issued a public challenge for a mega race. The event was highly publicized, but Big Chief walked away with a decisive victory, and tensions flared immediately afterward.
Rawlings complained about the track conditions and accused Big Chief of violating staging rules, while Big Chief dismissed the complaints as sour grapes from a television personality who was out of his depth in true street racing.
The clash was emblematic of a broader schism between two very different worlds: the polished, marketing-driven approach of Rawlings versus the raw, no-holds-barred ethos of Big Chief. For Big Chief, Rawlings represented everything that was wrong with the commodification of street racing, and including him on the list is a clear signal that Big Chief’s disdain extended beyond the confines of the Street Outlaws universe.
Big Chief’s decision to finally name these five individuals comes after years of speculation and silence. His departure from Street Outlaws in 2021 was initially attributed to creative differences, but the depth of these personal conflicts reveals a much more painful reality. The man who was once the undisputed king of the 405 list felt increasingly alienated by the very people he raced alongside.
The accusations of cheating, the backroom politics, and the growing influence of producers all contributed to his disillusionment
But Big Chief’s legacy extends far beyond these rivalries. He rose from a young boy captivated by the roar of engines on Route 66 to become the face of a multi-million-dollar franchise. He founded Midwest Street Cars, built the iconic “Crow” and “GTO,” and served as the Racemaster who kept the list honest.
His impact on street racing culture is immeasurable, and his decision to walk away from the television spotlight was a reaffirmation of the principles that first made him a legend.
Now, with this candid revelation, Big Chief has given fans an unprecedented look behind the curtain. The list he has named is not just a ranking of personal animosity; it is a roadmap of the fractures that ultimately broke the backbone of the Street Outlaws franchise. As the racing community reels from this announcement, one thing is clear: the man who once held the list will no longer be silent about who let him down
For Big Chief, the race may have ended on television, but the fight for authenticity in street racing continues. His YouTube channel and grassroots events remain his platform, and he has made it clear that he will not compromise his values for entertainment. The five names he has spoken are now etched into the history of Street Outlaws lore, serving as a stark reminder that even in the world of high-octane competition, the deepest wounds are often inflicted by those closest to you.
