Top Gear USA is Dead, At Least For the Time Being

Rutledge came clean about what happened in a post on Instagram accompanied by a picture of him standing next to Adam Ferrara and racecar driver extraordinaire Tanner Foust having tea on a couch. No, not the infamous casting couch! Just a regular couch.

“I'm very sad to say, but Tuesday night's #TopGear on @History is the last TG US that we have shot for you. I'm not saying Top Gear USA is done, but it's done for the immediate future on @History,” explained Rutledge on his Instagram.

To my ears, that sounds as if the higher-ups at History got fed up with the production costs in the wake of dwindling viewers. For comparison’s sake, the high point was Season 2 Episode 4 (2.23 million viewers).

Figures for the sixth and final season on History are not yet available, but I can tell you that the final episode of the fifth season attracted 1.24 million viewers. No one knows for sure what happened, but then again, this heart-rending situation doesn’t appear to be the end of Top Gear USA, not by a long shot.

Rutledge puts it as follows: “Although I don't think the show is done, it appears that it's done with our friends at History, and we're incredibly grateful for being a part of the A&E Networks family... The three of us will stick together and hope to bring you much more Top Gear USA,” albeit nobody knows what the future holds.

The last episode of Top Gear USA on History will air on June 28. [SPOILER ALERT] Tuesday night will see Rutledge, Adam, and Tanner took a trip down to Cuba, where they’ll be driving three American classics from the '50s. Be sure to tune in and bid your farewell to the boys, at least until they find a new broadcaster.

 

I'm very sad to say, but Tuesday night's #TopGear on @History is the last TG US that we have shot for you. I'm not saying Top Gear USA is done, but it's done for the immediate future on @History . I remember the day that I got the phone call to ask if I'd be interested in talking to one of the producers about possibly being one of the hosts of the US's version of the world's most iconic car show. It's been an amazing ride for sure, and although I don't think the show is done, it appears that it's done with our friends at History, and we're incredibly grateful for being a part of the A&E Networks family. I have had so much fun with Tanner and Adam, they really are like brothers to me. We've traveled this amazing country and to some of the coolest places on earth together, and even in the hardest moments, it's been a total dream come true. The three of us will stick together and hope to bring you much more Top Gear USA, albeit it somewhere else it appears. To the FANS- we cannot say enough how much we truly appreciate each and every one of you. You have always been there for us in great numbers, and we really do love you all. You are the reason shows like ours exist, and you're also the reason we've been so lucky to do this show for so long together. We never dreamed how many families would sit and watch our show and laugh together. We never knew how many couples would sit and watch three goofballs go out and try to make each other laugh. And yet, you all watched...and you told other people and shared in the joy. To everyone who worked on TGUS- thank you. For everything. You're our family and you're the reason we got to do this for so many years together. So here's a toast to all of you out there. I hope you'll watch Tuesday night and enjoy the last show we made for you. We took a trip of a lifetime down to Cuba and drove classic American cars from the 50's down there, and I can tell you it's one of the coolest things we have ever done together. Cheers and lots of love, Rutledge

A photo posted by @rutledgewood on Jun 26, 2016 at 7:25pm PDT