The Truth Behind the “10 Counting Cars Members Who Died” – Rumors, Receipts, and Real Respect

Short version: a wave of YouTube listicles claims a string of deaths in the Counting Cars family. The facts tell a different story. Those videos rake in views, but most of their “RIP”s don’t check out—no credible obituaries, no network statements, no shop announcements. Be careful what you share.

The show itself? Counting Cars ran 10 seasons (2012–2021). Since then, Count’s Kustoms continues building, painting, and welcoming fans—because the shop is a real Las Vegas business, not just a TV set. That continuity is why rumors about the team sting; fans feel like they know this crew.

Below, we go name by name—the same list that’s circulating—and put each claim under the light. Where there’s proof, we share it. Where the trail is cold, we say so plainly.

#10 — Scott Jones

Scott was the numbers-and-parts nerve center in the early seasons. He left the show after Season 2/early Season 3; on air it’s mentioned he moved to Tennessee after his son’s birth. There’s no credible reporting that he died. He stepped away from filming and life went on—off-camera.

#9 — Shannon Aikau

The calm magician of metal is Count’s Kustoms’ master bike builder, still profiled by the shop and industry events. Some videos imply a death; there’s no reliable obituary, statement, or report supporting that. One genuine loss in Shannon’s life: his father, Jimmy Aikau, passed in 2006—a grief he’s honored publicly.

#8 — Kevin Mack

Danny’s right-hand since forever, Kevin’s TV presence dipped in later seasons, sparking “what happened to” chatter. That gap morphed into “RIP” gossip online—but the record shows he’s alive and associated with the shop. Rumor ≠ obituary.

#7 — Horny Mike’s Uncle “Lou”

Some videos reference a behind-the-scenes mentor named Uncle Lou and claim he passed away. We found no official cast credit, network memorial, or shop statement—only that Mike (Michael Henry) is very much active and still the airbrush wild card fans recognize. Treat this one as unverified.

#6 — “Big Ryan”

This one’s tricky: Big Ryan is listed among Counting Cars personalities as a project scout/parts expert. But we found no reputable source reporting his death—no obit, no show tribute, no press. In other words: real cast member, unreal obituary (as far as credible records go).

#5 — “Billy the Builder”

A claimed guest fabricator whose alleged motorcycle crash is retold in viral scripts. Yet, he doesn’t appear in official cast/crew listings for the series, and there’s no reliable obituary tying a “Billy the Builder” to Count’s Kustoms. This looks like narrative invention, not reporting.

#4 — Robbie “Colorbomb” Martinez

Said to be a season‑two paint phenom who died suddenly in 2016. Again: no credible cast credit, no trade‑press note, no mainstream obituary connecting him to the show. The paint department’s face on camera has long been Ryan Evans—not Robbie. Until solid sources surface, consider this a rumor.

#3 — Jesse “J‑Rod” Hernandez

Circulating clips describe a young assistant killed in a freeway accident. We could not locate a reputable obituary linked to Count’s Kustoms or a network memorial—and the name doesn’t appear in standard credit listings for the show. Another story without receipts.

#2 — “Doc Larry Menddees”

Likely a mash‑up: Counting Cars’ “Doc” is Joseph “Doc” Duggan, a tech integrator featured by History’s own site. There’s no credible evidence of a “Larry Menddees,” and no verified pancreatic‑cancer obituary tied to the show. Conflation creates fiction.

#1 — Kenny “Boom Boom” Franklin

Purportedly a beloved sound tech who died from stroke complications in 2020. We found several “Kenneth/Kenny Franklin” obits in the world—none linked to the series. No network card, no production tribute, no press. It reads like an Internet telephone game, not a verified loss.

So…who has the Counting Cars circle publicly mourned?

Industry legends and loved ones, not a secret wave of cast deaths. One example: custom‑bike icon Arlen Ness (not a cast member, but revered in the community) died in 2019; tributes poured in across motorcycle media and from builders who admired him—including Counting Cars personalities. That’s how real remembrances look: widely reported, sourced, and specific.

Shannon’s father James “Jimmy” Aikau (a heavy‑machinery mechanic and rider) passed in 2006; the family and bike community marked his memory at the time. That’s a documented, personal loss—not a rumor.

Why these “RIP” lists spread—and how to shut them down

They reward emotion without verification. When a familiar face disappears from new episodes, a hiatus becomes a headstone in the rumor mill. Videos copy one another; a single invented detail (a middle name, a cause of death) gets repeated until it feels “true.” Don’t confuse repetition with sourcing. If a claim is real, you’ll see any of the following:

A statement from History or Leftfield Pictures (the producers)

A post from Count’s Kustoms or the individual’s official page

Coverage in credible outlets (regional press, trade media, obituaries)

If none of those exist, it’s almost certainly clickbait. Period.

The heartbeat that actually endures

Part of Counting Cars’ charm was always the blend of skill and soul—Shannon’s measured craft, Ryan’s candies and flakes, Mike’s chaotic genius, Kevin’s steady hand, Danny’s vision. The show hasn’t aired new episodes since 2021, but the shop lives on—building metal you can actually stand in front of, tour, and fall in love with. That’s a legacy you can verify with your own eyes.

Final word: Honor with facts, not fiction

If someone you admire does pass, they deserve more than a recycled listicle. They deserve sources, dates, context—and your time to read them. Until then, be the fan who pauses the share button and asks: Who’s saying this, and where’s the proof? The Count’s crew built on passion; let’s uphold them with truth.

Have a reputable source we missed? Share it—and make sure it’s from the network, the shop, a verified family statement, or a mainstream outlet. Until then, the most respectful tribute is accuracy.