You remember the flames, right? That deep, liquid-red paint job on Danny Koker’s 1981 Chevy C10 that looked like it was actually melting the Nevada asphalt? That was Ryan Evans. If you spent any time watching Counting Cars during its decade-long run on History, you know Ryan wasn't just another guy with a spray gun. He was the soul of the shop’s aesthetic.
But then the show stopped airing new episodes. The cameras moved on.
People started whispering. You’ve probably seen the clickbait headlines—the ones claiming he was fired, or that he had some massive "beef" with Danny, or even darker rumors about his health. Honestly, most of that is just noise designed to get a click. If you’re looking for the truth about Ryan Evans from Counting Cars in 2026, the reality is actually a lot more grounded—and honestly, more impressive—than the reality TV drama would have you believe.
Is Ryan Evans Still at Count's Kustoms?
The short answer is yes.
It’s easy to assume that when a TV show ends, the business shuts down or everyone scatters. That’s not what happened here. Ryan is still the Head Artist and Paint Shop Manager at Count's Kustoms in Las Vegas. He didn't quit. He wasn't "axed" in some secret Season 10 finale drama.
He’s just working.
I think we sometimes forget that before Counting Cars was a global TV hit, it was a real-deal custom shop. Ryan has been by Danny Koker’s side for over 25 years now. Think about that. In the volatile world of Las Vegas business and reality television, staying with the same crew for a quarter-century is basically unheard of. He remains Danny’s right-hand man when it comes to conceptualizing those wild, one-off builds that make the shop famous.
If you walk into the Count’s Kustoms showroom today, you aren't looking at a museum of "has-beens." You're looking at an active shop where Ryan is still the guy deciding which flake of gold belongs in the clear coat.
Why He Disappeared From Your Screen
The confusion mostly stems from the show's production timeline. Counting Cars officially aired its last new episode around 2021. While there were always rumors of an eleventh season, the "industry" side of things got messy.
There were legal headaches involving third parties—specifically a 2014 lawsuit involving a Mustang restoration that didn't go as planned—and the general shift in how the History Channel handles its programming. Ryan didn't "leave" the show; the show left the air.
During those final seasons, fans noticed Ryan appeared less frequently. This sparked the "did he get fired?" firestorm. In reality, Ryan was simply doing his job. He’s a painter, not a professional actor. As the show leaned more into the "characters" and the wacky side-plots with guys like Horny Mike (who Ryan still playfully tells to "shut up" on a daily basis), the actual process of painting—which takes dozens of hours of silent, meticulous work—sometimes got cut in the editing room.
The Man Behind the Mask: Life in 2026
When he isn't in the booth, Ryan has actually become a bit of a mentor in the automotive world. He’s a regular fixture at SEMA (the Specialty Equipment Market Association show) in Vegas.
Honestly, it’s kinda cool to see him there. He isn't just signing autographs; he’s usually at the booths for companies like Anest Iwata or FBS Tapes, actually teaching younger painters how to mask a flame job or handle a high-end spray gun. He’s turned his TV fame into a way to keep the craft of custom painting alive.
He’s also kept his personal life pretty tight-knit. He’s still married to Dana Pauley, and they’ve built a solid life in Vegas away from the strip's chaos. He’s a family man, a guy who loves tattoos and, hilariously enough, has a well-documented soft spot for cats and rubber ducks. It’s that contrast—the tough-looking guy with the sleeves who loves his pets—that made him so relatable to fans in the first place.
The Projects He’s Most Proud Of
If you ask Ryan about his "greatest hits," he usually points back to three specific vehicles that defined his career:
- The 1981 Chevy C10: Danny’s personal "Vampire" van. It’s been through a dozen iterations, but Ryan’s red flame work is what finally made Danny say, "Don't ever touch it again."
- The Superfly Cadillac: A 1971 masterpiece from Season 3. The gold leafing and depth in that paint job are still used as references in custom paint shops today.
- The 1973 Buick Riviera Boattail: This is the one that won him "Best in Show" at SEMA. The silver and red accents on a black base proved he wasn't just a "hot rod" guy—he was a fine artist.
What's Next for the Lead Painter?
So, what should you actually expect from Ryan Evans moving forward?
Don't wait for a reboot of the show to see his work. He’s very active on social media, often posting "process" videos that show the actual grit of the job—the sanding, the taping, the mistakes. He’s also involved in the "Count’s Kustoms Network" on YouTube, which is where a lot of the shop's new content lives now that the big cable contracts are over.
His net worth is estimated anywhere between $1 million and $5 million, but if you saw him at a gas station in Vegas, he’d probably just look like a guy who’s had a long day at the shop. He hasn't "gone Hollywood." He’s stayed "Vegas."
If you’re a fan wanting to keep up with him, your best bet isn't checking the TV guide.
Check the shop’s official site for their event calendar. Ryan still travels to car shows across the country—places like the Syracuse Nationals or the Sturgis Buffalo Chip. He’s often there doing live demos. Seeing him work in person is a lot different than seeing it on a 40-minute edited TV show; you realize just how much physical labor goes into those "liquid" finishes.
To see what Ryan is working on right now, follow the official Count’s Kustoms Instagram or his personal Facebook page. He frequently does Q&A sessions where he answers technical questions about paint codes and airbrushing techniques. If you're ever in Las Vegas, you can still visit the Count's Kustoms Museum for free. While Ryan is usually busy in the back (and the paint booth is off-limits for safety), the finished products of his last 20 years are all right there on the floor, and they look even better in person than they did on your TV.