Aaron Kaufman was a prominent part of Fast N’ Loud, the Discovery Channel series revolving around the Dallas, Texas-based Gas Monkey Garage. Kaufman was a lead mechanic at the establishment and garnered considerable fame because of the series. However, he left the main cast of Fast N’ Loud in 2016, and even though it has been about nine years since then, people are still curious about why he exited the popular show.
Here are all the details.
Here’s why Aaron Kaufman left Gas Monkey Garage permanently
Aaron Kaufman left Gas Monkey Garage toward the end of 2016, and the viewers saw the related interactions in Fast N’ Loud episodes. Reflecting on his decision, Kaufman told Richard Rawlings, the proprietor of the Gas Monkey Garage and the main star of Fast N’ Loud, “I had some time off, and I think I got some other things — some other cats I want to skin. Some other things I want to get into.”
The TV personality added, “To quote Stevie Nicks, I think I have to go my own way.” (via MIC)
Although Kaufman initially dubbed his absence from the show as an “extended vacation,” he later stated that he was exiting the show permanently. He went on to star in his own show, Shifting Gears with Aaron Kaufman, which aired for two seasons in 2018.
Rawlings reportedly stated in a blog post that he had nothing to do with Kaufman’s departure, which caught him by surprise. “I want you all to know that it was not my decision and came completely out of left field,” he wrote. “Aaron has been a part of Gas Monkey Garage since day one, and it will be a painstaking process moving forward without his talents. It is a big hit to GMG, but please note that it would be an insult to everyone here at Gas Monkey who has been putting in the work these past few years to say that we can’t do it without him.”
Notably, Kaufman has also appeared in The Gymkhana Files and Aaron Kaufmann.
