TLDR: Texas Metal has followed Bill Carlton and his crew at Ekstensive Metal Works since 2017, but two of the show’s original stars quietly disappeared from the lineup over the years. Both left for real, documented reasons that have nothing to do with each other.
Texas Metal debuted in late 2017 on what was then Velocity Network, following the crew at Ekstensive Metal Works in East Aldine, Texas through custom truck and classic car builds.
Beyond Carlton himself, the show built a real ensemble around specific trades, from fabrication and painting to interior upholstery and diesel performance work.
The Shop’s Second-in-Command Left to Start His Own Business
Tim Donelson served as General Manager at Ekstensive for years, effectively Carlton’s right hand and one of the most consistently featured cast members through the show’s early seasons.
He left both the shop and the show around 2022, and by most accounts the split was amicable, with no reported falling out between him and Carlton.
Donelson went on to launch his own operation, reportedly teaming up with former Ekstensive fabricator John Villarreal-Vega on a new venture. He’s continued sharing his fabrication and painting work on social media since leaving, still active in the same Houston-area custom car scene even without the cameras.
The Original Interior Specialist Disappeared After a Serious Health Scare
Heath Moore built a fan following as the show’s original interior and upholstery specialist across its first three seasons before vanishing from Season 4 entirely. In early 2021, he revealed on social media that he’d contracted COVID-19 and had a genuinely frightening battle with it, at one point saying he wasn’t sure he’d survive.
He recovered and tested negative that March, but never returned to the show afterward, and has never publicly explained the full reason why. You can read more about his life since leaving in our dedicated piece on Heath Moore.
The Rest of the Crew Kept the Shop Running
Fabricators John Villarreal-Vega and Jamie Dwayne Marshall have remained fixtures across the show’s run, alongside interior craftsman John Burgess and welder Jessie Flores. Office manager Valerie Nicole Riojas and diesel performance specialists Chase Wells and Clay Wells round out a cast built around real trade specialties rather than just personalities.
Even Carlton’s own family has made appearances, with his son Keegan and daughter Presley both credited on the show at points. It’s a genuinely large ensemble for a shop-based build show, closer in scale to the crew you’d expect running an actual high-volume fabrication business.
Texas Metal, Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Tim Donelson leave Texas Metal?
Donelson left his role as General Manager at Ekstensive Metal Works around 2022 to start his own venture with a former colleague. Reports describe the departure as amicable, with no public falling out between him and Bill Carlton.
Why did Heath Moore leave Texas Metal?
Moore, the show’s original interior specialist, disappeared after Season 3 following a serious COVID-19 illness in early 2021. He recovered but never publicly explained his full reason for not returning to the show.
Who is still on Texas Metal today?
Fabricators John Villarreal-Vega and Jamie Dwayne Marshall, interior craftsman John Burgess, and other longtime crew members have remained part of the show alongside Bill Carlton.
Do any of Bill Carlton’s children appear on Texas Metal?
Yes, his son Keegan and daughter Presley have both been credited as appearing on the show.
