Ron Shirley is a loud man. If you ever watched even five minutes of Lizard Lick Towing on truTV, you know exactly what that means. He’s got that North Carolina drawl that feels like it’s been soaked in sweet tea and gravel, and he’s usually screaming at someone who doesn't want their truck hooked up to his wrecker. But the cast of Lizard Lick Towing wasn't just a group of repo agents; they were reality TV royalty for a hot minute in the early 2010s.
They were real. Mostly.
The show was a spin-off of All Worked Up, and it followed the daily chaos of a repossession company based in the tiny town of Wendell, North Carolina. It was gritty, sweaty, and filled with "Ronisms"—those bizarre metaphors Ron would spit out like, "I'm busier than a one-legged cat trying to bury a turd on a frozen pond." People loved it because it felt like a family business that just happened to involve getting punched in the face by angry debtors.
The Heart of the Lick: Ron and Amy Shirley
Ron Shirley started the business back in 1998. He isn't just the face of the brand; he’s the engine. While many reality stars fade into total obscurity once the network pulls the plug, Ron stayed remarkably busy. He didn't just sit around waiting for another camera crew. He leaned into his faith and his community. Today, Ron is heavily involved in ministry. He’s a licensed pastor and spends a lot of time doing evangelism work through his "Lizard Lick Ministries."
It’s a weird pivot if you only remember him wrestling people in dirt lots, but if you listen to his speeches now, that same intensity is there. It’s just directed at a different kind of salvation.
Then you have Amy. Amy Shirley is arguably the toughest person in the entire cast of Lizard Lick Towing. She’s a former powerlifter and world-record holder, which explains why she never backed down from anyone on the show. She handled the office, the kids, and the occasional physical confrontation with grace—or at least with a very firm grip.
Amy and Ron are still together. That’s a rarity in the reality TV world where "The Curse" usually breaks families apart. They’ve focused on their kids and their local business. While the "Lizard Lick" brand has shifted more toward merchandise and public appearances, they still have deep roots in Wendell. Amy continues to advocate for fitness and often shares glimpses of their family life on social media, proving that the chaos we saw on screen was just one slice of a much more stable reality.
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The Muscle: Bobby Brantley and the Fallout
If Ron was the mouth, Bobby Brantley was the brawn. Bobby was the breakout star for many fans. He was the "everyman" who often bore the brunt of the physical labor and the physical attacks. However, his journey with the cast of Lizard Lick Towing ended on a bit of a rocky note.
For a while, Bobby seemed to disappear.
There was a lot of behind-the-scenes tension that wasn't always captured by the truTV cameras. Bobby eventually left the show and the business to pursue his own path. He spent some time working on other media projects, including a show called Bad To The Bone, and leaned into his love for the outdoors and truck culture. He’s active on YouTube and social media these days, often posting about hunting, fishing, and his life as a father.
Honestly, the dynamic between Ron and Bobby was the "secret sauce" of the show. When that chemistry fractured, the show felt different. Fans often ask if they’re still friends. The answer is complicated. Like any brothers who worked together in high-stress environments for years, they’ve had their ups and downs, but they’ve mostly moved in separate circles for the last decade.
The Supporting Players and the "Realness" Factor
You can't talk about the cast of Lizard Lick Towing without mentioning the rotating door of drivers and office staff. Names like Krazy Dave and Juicy added a layer of local flavor that made Wendell feel like a character itself.
Krazy Dave was exactly what his name implied. He provided the comic relief when things got too tense. While he wasn't a "main" star in the way the Shirleys were, he was a staple of the brand's identity. Sadly, the reality of the repo business is that it’s dangerous and grueling. Most of the background staff moved back into "normal" lives once the production trailers left town.
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Let’s address the elephant in the room: Was it fake?
Critics always pointed to the camera angles. How did the cameraman know exactly where to stand when a guy was about to throw a brick?
Well, it’s "pro-wrestling" reality. The situations were usually based on real repossession stories, but they were often recreated or "enhanced" for television. You can’t have a camera crew following a repo man for 24 hours a day and hope to catch a perfect fight every time. The cast of Lizard Lick Towing were essentially playing versions of themselves in scenarios they had actually lived through. That’s why the emotions felt genuine even if the staging felt a little too perfect.
Life After truTV: The Business Today
Lizard Lick Towing and Recovery is still a real entity, but it doesn't look like it did in 2011. The headquarters in Wendell became a bit of a tourist destination. People would drive from three states away just to take a picture with the sign.
Ron and Amy capitalized on this. They sold merchandise—hats, shirts, even barbecue sauce. But the core of their life now is the ministry and their family. Ron’s "Dirt Church" is a real thing. He uses his platform to reach people who might feel uncomfortable in a traditional cathedral. It’s rugged. It’s loud. It’s very Ron.
The show officially ended its run in 2014 after four seasons and nearly 100 episodes. That’s a massive run for a niche repo show. It outlasted many of its competitors because the cast of Lizard Lick Towing felt like people you might actually know. They weren't polished Hollywood types. They were folks with thick accents and messy lives.
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What You Can Learn From the Lizard Lick Legacy
Watching the trajectory of this cast offers a few legitimate insights into the world of niche fame and small-business survival.
- Diversify your brand early. Ron and Amy didn't just rely on the show's paycheck. They built a merchandise empire and a speaking platform that sustained them long after the show was canceled.
- Authenticity beats polish. Even when the show felt scripted, the personalities were real. People connected with the Shirleys because they didn't try to hide their flaws or their faith.
- Protect the family unit. The repo business is high-stress. Reality TV is higher stress. The fact that Ron and Amy’s marriage survived both is a testament to their personal priorities over their "celebrity" status.
If you’re looking to keep up with them now, social media is your best bet. Ron is still active on Facebook and Instagram, often sharing motivational videos that sound suspiciously like his old repo rants, just with more Bible verses. Bobby Brantley continues to engage with his "Bobby Fans" through his own channels, staying true to his country roots.
The cast of Lizard Lick Towing proved that you don't need a penthouse in New York to be a superstar. You just need a tow truck, a loud voice, and enough grit to handle the hits when they come. They’re still out there, just without the camera crews following them into the Raleigh suburbs at 3:00 AM.
For those interested in the actual business side of things, the Shirleys have pivoted heavily into the "Lizard Lick Boutique" and their various charitable endeavors. They often host events in North Carolina that allow fans to visit the shop and meet them in person, maintaining a level of accessibility that most former TV stars avoid. It’s a blueprint for how to handle "fifteen minutes of fame" and turn it into a lifelong career.
Stay updated on their current speaking schedules or ministry events by following Ron’s official social pages, as he frequently tours the Southeast. If you happen to be driving through Wendell, you can still see the remnants of the show's legacy, but remember—it’s a working town and a real family, so keep it respectful if you go hunting for a selfie.