What Really Happened to Big Chief? The Untold Story Behind His Exit from Street Outlaws

For more than a decade, Justin Shearer—better known to the world as Big Chief—was the face of Street Outlaws. He wasn’t just another guy behind the wheel; he was the heart and soul of Oklahoma City’s street racing scene. From his humble beginnings to becoming a household name in the racing world, Big Chief lived for speed, competition, and authenticity.

But somewhere along the way, things changed.

Fans didn’t get a warning, a farewell episode, or even a proper explanation. One day, Big Chief was there. The next, he was gone. So, what really happened?

Photo by Big Chief 405

From Quiet Kid to Street Racing Icon

Born December 9, 1980, in Louisville, Kentucky, Justin had a quiet start. After losing his father at a young age, he was raised by his mother. Life wasn’t easy, but the one constant that lit a fire in him was cars. When his family moved to Oklahoma City when he was nine, everything shifted.

OKC’s underground street racing scene was alive—and young Justin was hooked. He couldn’t drive yet, but that didn’t stop him. He watched, listened, and learned. The racers noticed the kid who never missed a night. Soon, he was part of the crew, holding tools, fetching parts, doing whatever it took to be close to the action.

By 16, he got his first car: a 1972 Pontiac LeMans. It wasn’t much to most, but to Justin, it was everything. That old LeMans would later become The Crow, a car as legendary as the man behind the wheel.

Street Outlaws Launches—and Big Chief Takes the Spotlight

By his 20s, Big Chief had earned his stripes in OKC. He wasn’t the loudest guy out there, but he was fast, consistent, and respected. That’s when a production crew came calling with an idea—capture real street racing, not the polished version you see at tracks.

When Street Outlaws premiered in 2013, it exploded. Fans couldn’t get enough of the rivalries, the adrenaline, the gritty realness. And at the center of it all was Big Chief.

Photo by Big Chief 405

He wasn’t just racing for fame. He raced for respect. He kept it fair, stayed grounded, and never lost sight of what made the street scene special. To many, he was the show.

The Crash That Shook Everything

But street racing isn’t just fast—it’s dangerous. And No Prep Kings took that danger to a whole new level. During a race against Brian “Chucky” Davis, Big Chief lost control of The Crow. The crash was brutal. His car flipped and slammed hard, leaving him with serious injuries: broken bones, spinal damage, collapsed lungs.

It was a terrifying moment for fans and racers alike.

But in true Chief fashion, he didn’t whine. He didn’t play the victim. He thanked fans for the love and vowed to come back stronger.

The Rumors Start Flying

While he was healing, more than just bones were breaking—so was his personal life. In 2017, fans noticed something was off. Rumors swirled about his marriage. Some said he was cheating. Others said it had been rocky for years.

Eventually, Big Chief addressed it head-on: he and his wife Alicia were divorcing. He denied the cheating talk but admitted things at home had been tough. Not long after, he was seen with Jackie Brash, another racer with deep roots in the sport. That sparked even more gossip, but for Chief, life—and racing—had to keep moving.

Photo by Big Chief 405

Then He Disappeared…

Just when things seemed to be stabilizing, fans were hit with another curveball: Big Chief vanished from Street Outlaws. No explanation. No goodbye. Just… gone.

Speculation hit hard. Was he still hurt? Did he quit? Was there drama behind the scenes?

Turns out, the truth was deeper.

Big Chief Sets the Record Straight

In a candid YouTube video, Big Chief broke it down. He hadn’t lost interest. He hadn’t been kicked off. It was about principle.

A new “Race Your Way In” format had been introduced—a change he felt gave an unfair advantage to Memphis racers. To him, it wasn’t street racing anymore. The authenticity was fading. Rather than fake a smile and play along, he stepped away.

Not out of anger, but out of integrity.

Back to the Roots

After the video, Chief dropped hints on Instagram. He was rebuilding The Crow. He was focusing on America’s List—a version of the show that stayed true to real racing. He wasn’t done. He was just done playing someone else’s game.

The fans who truly know Big Chief understood: he didn’t disappear—he evolved.

No Cameras, No Scripts—Just Racing

These days, Big Chief isn’t chasing camera time. He’s chasing horsepower. He’s still in the garage, still wrenching, still testing late into the night. His social media is filled with updates on The Crow, behind-the-scenes clips, and tips for up-and-coming racers.

He’s no longer the TV centerpiece, but he’s more present in the real racing world than ever.

The Legacy Lives On

Some said he was finished. That he had peaked. But those people clearly don’t know Big Chief.

He’s still out there. Still racing. Still pushing. And The Crow? Running better than ever.

While Street Outlaws has grown more commercial, Big Chief is the reminder of what it all started as—raw, gritty, unscripted competition. The kind of racing that’s more about respect than ratings.

He’s built a new lane. One where he’s not following producers, but following his passion.

At Street Outlaws Talks, we don’t just cover drama—we cover stories that matter to real fans of the sport. And Big Chief’s story is far from over. He didn’t quit. He didn’t fade away. He just took a different road. One with less noise, and a lot more meaning.