Was Kevin Schiele On Gas Monkey Garage? The Ultimate 2026 Guide To KevDogg And Fast N' Loud

For viewers who spent the last decade watching custom car builds on television, the names Kevin Schiele and Gas Monkey Garage represent the pinnacle of automotive entertainment. However, a common question continues to circulate among custom car enthusiasts: Was Kevin Schiele ever on Gas Monkey Garage?

To clear up any immediate confusion: Kevin Schiele has never been employed by, associated with, or featured as a crew member on Gas Monkey Garage. Kevin "KevDogg" Schiele is the long-time shop foreman at Kindig-it Design, the Salt Lake City-based custom fabrication shop featured on the hit MotorTrend television series Bitchin' Rides. Gas Monkey Garage, located in Dallas, Texas, is owned by Richard Rawlings and was the setting for Discovery Channel's Fast N' Loud.

The confusion between these two automotive powerhouses stems from their shared television network parent companies, their concurrent broadcasting schedules, and their frequent joint appearances at major automotive trade shows like the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Clarifying the Confusion: Why Fans Link KevDogg to Gas Monkey Garage

In the world of automotive reality television, production styles and cast members often overlap in the minds of viewers. During the peak of mid-2010s car television, Discovery Communications acquired a majority stake in MotorTrend Network (formerly Velocity). Because Fast N' Loud and Bitchin' Rides were frequently broadcast on the same family of networks, promotional commercials and marathon programming blocks naturally ran back-to-back.

For a casual viewer, the distinction between a high-end hot rod build in Utah and a fast-paced flip in Texas can blur. This cognitive overlap is further intensified by several key factors:

• The SEMA Show Connection: Both Kindig-it Design and Gas Monkey Garage are prominent exhibitors at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show. Kevin Schiele and Richard Rawlings have been photographed together at these events, leading to search engine queries linking their names.
• Industry Crossovers: Guest builders and fabricators frequently move between high-profile shops. While elite metal fabricators have transitioned between various television garages, Kevin Schiele has remained fiercely loyal to Dave Kindig and the Kindig-it Design brand.
• The "Foreman" Persona: Both shops feature strong, authoritative shop managers who keep eccentric builders on schedule. Viewers often conflate Kevin Schiele's no-nonsense management style with past Gas Monkey shop foremen or lead builders, such as Aaron Kaufman or Jason Aker.

Kevin "KevDogg" Schiele: His Legacy at Kindig-it Design

To appreciate why Kevin Schiele has never needed to work for Gas Monkey Garage, one must understand his critical role at Kindig-it Design. Kevin has been an integral part of Kindig-it Design since its early days, working alongside founder and lead designer Dave Kindig for nearly three decades.

As the Shop Foreman, Kevin does not merely turn wrenches; he manages the entire operational flow of a 27,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art restoration facility. His responsibilities require a deep mastery of several automotive disciplines:

Operational Workflow Management

Managing an elite custom shop requires balancing creative vision with strict engineering timelines. Kevin coordinates tasks across the metal fabrication, paint, bodywork, assembly, and upholstery departments. He ensures that Dave Kindig's highly complex, bespoke renderings are physically realized without compromising structural integrity or vehicle safety.

Technical Quality Control

Every vehicle leaving Kindig-it Design must meet concours-level standards. Kevin personally oversees the mechanical mocking, suspension geometry tuning, electrical routing, and powertrain calibration. His strict standards have helped the shop win prestigious accolades, including the Ridler Award and numerous Goodgoods awards.

Unlike the high-volume, rapid-turnaround business model historically seen on Fast N' Loud, Kindig-it Design focuses on multi-year, million-dollar bespoke builds. Kevin's tenure at the shop has made him one of the most respected and recognizable figures in the global hot rod community, solidifying his role on Bitchin' Rides without ever needing to cross over to other television garages.

Gas Monkey Garage vs. Kindig-it Design: Key Differences

To further clarify why Kevin Schiele's build philosophy does not align with the Gas Monkey brand, it is helpful to contrast the operational strategies, television footprints, and fabrication philosophies of both institutions.

While both shops have achieved global fame, their business models, target demographics, and build aesthetics represent two completely different segments of the custom automotive industry.

The Production Philosophy: Craftsmanship vs. Volume

The contrast between these two shops is stark. Gas Monkey Garage built its reputation on the "Blood, Sweat, and Beers" mantra, focusing on finding vintage steel, executing rapid mechanical upgrades, and selling the vehicles quickly at auction for a profit. This fast-paced environment prioritized speed, marketability, and entertainment value.

In contrast, Kevin Schiele operates in an environment where perfection is the baseline. A typical build at Kindig-it Design involves completely redesigning body lines, custom-fabricating one-off chassis, installing modern high-performance drivetrains, and executing flawless paint finishes that take hundreds of hours to wet-sand and polish. Kevin’s technical expertise is suited for this precision-driven environment, which explains his long-standing commitment to Kindig-it.

The Reality TV Landscape: How Crossovers Occur

While Kevin Schiele was never on the Gas Monkey roster, the automotive television industry has seen its share of genuine crossovers. These genuine collaborations often confuse fans into remembering non-existent crossovers.

For example, Discovery has hosted crossover build-offs, such as the famous Mega Race episodes where Gas Monkey Garage competed against other television personalities like the crew from Street Outlaws or Jesse James. Similarly, motor builders and painters have hopped from one network show to another.

Furthermore, both Dave Kindig and Richard Rawlings have used the same high-end parts suppliers. It is common to see both shops using products from industry giants like Wilwood Brakes, Roadster Shop chassis, or custom wheels from Schott or Billet Specialties. When Kevin Schiele discusses these technical components on Bitchin' Rides, and a Gas Monkey fabricator discusses the exact same parts on Fast N' Loud, it creates a unified industry narrative that easily leads to viewer confusion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Kevin Schiele ever a guest builder on Fast N' Loud?

No, Kevin Schiele has never appeared as a guest builder or cast member on Fast N' Loud. His entire television career has been dedicated to Bitchin' Rides and its spin-offs, showcasing his work exclusively with the team at Kindig-it Design.

Who is the shop foreman at Gas Monkey Garage?

Throughout the run of Fast N' Loud, Gas Monkey Garage did not have a single permanent shop foreman in the way Kindig-it has Kevin Schiele. Aaron Kaufman served as the lead mechanic and fabricator for many years, managing much of the shop's build strategy, followed by other lead builders like Jason Aker and Tony Cano in later seasons.

Are Dave Kindig and Richard Rawlings friends?

Dave Kindig and Richard Rawlings are friendly professional peers within the automotive industry. They regularly interact at major events like SEMA, Barney Smith's auctions, and custom car shows, but they run completely independent businesses with distinct business models.

Why do people think Kevin Schiele was on Gas Monkey Garage?

The confusion is primarily due to the syndication of Bitchin' Rides and Fast N' Loud on the same networks (Discovery and MotorTrend). Because both shows feature prominent custom builds and aired during the same prime-time blocks, casual viewers often blend the casts of both shows in their memories.

What is Kevin Schiele's current role in 2026?

In 2026, Kevin Schiele continues to serve as the Shop Foreman for Kindig-it Design. He remains a central cast member on Bitchin' Rides, overseeing some of the most complex, award-winning custom car restorations in the world while managing the shop's growing fabrication team.

The Value of Dedicated Craftsmanship

For automotive enthusiasts, the distinction between these two television brands highlight the diverse paths available within the custom car industry. While Gas Monkey Garage mastered the art of high-volume marketing, rapid builds, and global brand licensing, Kevin Schiele and the Kindig-it Design team chose to focus on the relentless pursuit of automotive perfection.

If you are looking to build a custom hot rod or simply want to appreciate the engineering and artistry of elite car restoration, watching Kevin Schiele direct his crew on Bitchin' Rides offers an educational masterclass in modern custom fabrication. His enduring legacy at Kindig-it Design proves that true craftsmanship doesn't need to hop from shop to shop to leave a permanent mark on car culture.