Mike Finnegan shares his journey from automotive TV star on Roadkill to full-time YouTuber with Finnegan's Garage, reflecting on the end of traditional car shows and the rise of digital content. He discusses his favorite project cars, the challenges of automotive media contracts, and his thoughts on fellow YouTubers like Cletus McFarland and the new Grand Tour hosts. Mike also opens up about balancing family life with his career, upcoming projects, and his recent injury. The conversation offers a candid look at life after TV and the evolving car culture online.
Mike Finnegan returns to The MuscleCar Place for a special edition episode, and as always, he brings the stories, honesty, and perspective that only he can deliver. From his early days on Roadkill to becoming a full-time YouTube creator with Finnegan’s Garage, Mike shares what life looks like after the 2024 shutdown of Motor Trend productions. What once felt uncertain turned into the perfect transition—giving him more time with family while opening the door to collaborate freely with friends and fellow creators in what he calls the “Wild Wild West” of YouTube.
We also dig into the fate of fan-favorite Roadkill cars, the reality behind automotive media today, and what’s next in Mike’s world—from wild shop builds to recovering from a recent dirt bike injury. Along the way, Mike shares his thoughts on Cletus McFarland’s impact on NASCAR, the future of shows like The Grand Tour, and why real chemistry—not scripted production—is what truly makes automotive content work.
""So I met Mike in 2015, and we were both working on the Hot Rod Power Tour. He was there with Roadkill.""
The Hot Rod Power Tour is a big car event where people drive their special cars on a long trip, stopping in different places to show off and have fun.
The Hot Rod Power Tour is an annual automotive event where enthusiasts drive their hot rods and muscle cars across multiple cities, showcasing their vehicles and participating in various activities along the route.
""He was there with Roadkill. And I was there working with FM3 Performance...""
Roadkill is a famous car show on YouTube where people work on and drive cool cars, often muscle cars and old project cars.
Roadkill is a popular automotive YouTube series and brand known for its focus on muscle cars, project cars, and car culture, often featuring builds, challenges, and road trips.
""And I was there working with FM3 Performance, which, and I still do today, but at that time, I was handling their business development...""
FM3 Performance is a company that helps make cars go faster and work better, especially for people who like racing or showing off their cars.
FM3 Performance is a company specializing in automotive performance parts and services, often involved in events like the Hot Rod Power Tour to support automotive enthusiasts and racers.
"When road kill ended, he just switched to full-time YouTuber, was an easy transition, probably."
A YouTuber is a person who makes videos on YouTube about things they like, such as cars. They share these videos with lots of people online.
A YouTuber is someone who creates and publishes videos on the YouTube platform, often focusing on specific topics like cars, tutorials, or entertainment. Many automotive enthusiasts have transitioned to full-time YouTube careers to share their passion and expertise.
"what he really thinks the future of the Grand Tour could be, what he thinks Cletus is really up to in NASCAR, all of it."
The Grand Tour is a TV show where people talk about and drive cars in fun and exciting ways.
The Grand Tour is a popular automotive television series featuring car reviews, challenges, and adventures, originally starring former Top Gear hosts. It is known for its entertaining and informative car content.
"what he really thinks the future of the Grand Tour could be, what he thinks Cletus is really up to in NASCAR, all of it."
NASCAR is a type of car racing where drivers race special cars on round tracks at very high speeds.
NASCAR is a major American motorsport organization known for stock car racing on oval tracks. It is one of the most popular forms of racing in the United States.
"The Rarion's loose, the car is fast. Loose is fast, but on the edge, you're out of control."
'Loose' means the back of the car slides out a bit when turning, which can make the car go faster but is harder to drive.
In car handling terms, 'loose' describes a car whose rear tires have less grip, causing the rear end to slide out during cornering. This can make the car faster in some racing situations but also harder to control.
"So the next National Legends car event is in the Nashville area, and they race at two"
National Legends cars are small race cars that look like old cars from the 1930s and 1940s. People race them in special events.
National Legends cars are 5/8-scale replicas of 1930s and 1940s American automobiles used in a popular racing series. They are known for close, competitive racing and are often a stepping stone for aspiring drivers.
""He will not be running a late model, likely in the month of April, at least not till after this national stuff is done. That's the focus for April here.""
A late model is a special kind of race car used on smaller race tracks. It looks like a regular car but is built just for racing and goes very fast.
A late model is a type of stock car used primarily in short track racing, often featuring a purpose-built chassis and a V8 engine. These cars are popular in grassroots and regional racing circuits across the United States.
"You know, the big thing is I'm his dad. I don't take safety gear lightly. The truth is I'll go buy whatever I need to keep my kids safe, but I'd much rather work with a partner and we've pitched the right ones, the ones that you would trust to."
Safety gear means things like helmets and special clothes that keep people safe when they drive fast or race cars.
Safety gear in automotive contexts includes equipment like helmets, fire suits, gloves, and harnesses designed to protect drivers and passengers during motorsports or high-performance driving.
"Alrighty, don't forget, once per month, we do have Mr. Rick Schmidt from National Parts Depot on to talk all things NPD. And you can ask him anything you like."
National Parts Depot is a place where you can buy parts for old American muscle cars to fix or improve them.
National Parts Depot (NPD) is a company specializing in supplying parts for muscle cars, offering a wide range of components to help enthusiasts maintain and restore classic American muscle cars.
"And of course, visit nationalpartsdepot.com to peruse for all your muscle car parts need because they find the source, they expect the best."
Muscle car parts are pieces that help keep big, powerful American cars from the past working well or looking good.
Muscle car parts refer to components specifically designed or compatible with American muscle cars, which are high-performance vehicles typically from the 1960s and 1970s known for powerful V8 engines and aggressive styling.
""Did you see this coming or did you just start your own YouTube channel because you wanted to? A little of both.""
A YouTube channel is like your own TV show online where you can post videos for people to watch anytime. Many car fans use YouTube channels to share car videos instead of magazines or TV.
A YouTube channel is a dedicated page on the YouTube platform where creators upload and share videos with their audience. It has become a major platform for automotive media and entertainment, replacing traditional print and TV formats for many creators.
""But the decline of print media was pretty easy to see, beginning in probably 2008. And the rise of YouTube was real easy to spot.""
Print media means magazines and newspapers you can hold in your hand. Over time, fewer people buy them because they get their news and videos online instead.
The decline of print media refers to the reduction in popularity and sales of physical magazines and newspapers, especially in automotive media, due to the rise of digital platforms like websites and YouTube.
""If this thing implodes, I never expected it to last as long as it did behind a paywall, but it did.""
A paywall means you have to pay money to see certain videos or articles online. Some car shows or magazines do this to make money.
A paywall is a system that restricts access to online content unless the user pays a subscription or fee. Many automotive media companies have used paywalls to monetize their content.
""2024, November, October, November of 2024 is when they yanked the plug on the complete production side of Motor Trend with regards to those original car shows.""
Motor Trend is a popular company that makes car magazines and TV shows about cars. Many car fans know it as a trusted source for car news and reviews.
Motor Trend is a well-known automotive media brand that produces magazines, TV shows, and digital content focused on cars and automotive culture.
""They didn't even air the last season on streaming platforms or cable television.""
Streaming platforms are websites or apps where you can watch shows and videos anytime you want, like Netflix or YouTube. Many car shows are now on these instead of regular TV.
Streaming platforms are online services like Netflix or YouTube where users can watch video content on demand. They have become a primary way to distribute automotive shows after traditional TV.
""...a couple of years ago, I wouldn't have been able to do anything with on YouTube and now I can. So it's kind of a blessing in disguise that all of this changed...""
YouTube car culture means people who love cars sharing videos online about fixing, modifying, and talking about cars. It's a way for car fans to learn and have fun together.
YouTube car culture refers to the community and content around cars, modifications, and automotive lifestyle shared on YouTube. It has enabled enthusiasts and professionals to connect, share projects, and grow audiences outside traditional media.
""Like they were people that own shops. I met a couple of real nice guys that own shops.""
Car shops are places where people fix and work on cars. The people who own or work there know a lot about cars and how to make them better or fix problems.
Car shops are businesses or garages where cars are repaired, modified, or restored. Owners and mechanics in these shops often have deep automotive knowledge and skills.
""There were people that had been on car shows before like John Andrade, who was on Street Outlaws and who has his own shop in Yukon, Oklahoma.""
Car shows are TV or online videos where people talk about cars, fix them, race them, or show off cool cars. They help people learn about cars and have fun watching.
Car shows are television or online programs focused on cars, automotive culture, and related activities. They often feature builds, races, restorations, and personalities from the car community.
"It was Greta, the Ford Pinto wagon, or it was the Maniata, which was that Mazda Miata that we shoved a 50 shot of nitrous down on a button, just held it down and climbed a mountain with."
The Ford Pinto wagon is a small car made by Ford in the 1970s. It was easy to drive and had space in the back for carrying things, but it also had some safety problems that made it famous.
The Ford Pinto wagon is a compact car produced by Ford in the 1970s, known for its lightweight design and controversial safety history. The wagon variant offered more cargo space and was popular for its practicality and affordability.
"which was that Mazda Miata that we shoved a 50 shot of nitrous down on a button, just held it down and climbed a mountain with. It was really fun. I mean, the Miata wasn't anything like I would personally want to own, but oh my God, was it fun to drive?"
The Mazda Miata is a small sports car that is easy and fun to drive. It has two seats and is known for being good at turning and driving fast on twisty roads.
The Mazda Miata is a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive roadster famous for its balanced handling and fun driving experience. It is often used in motorsports and enthusiast driving due to its simplicity and agility.
"which was that Mazda Miata that we shoved a 50 shot of nitrous down on a button, just held it down and climbed a mountain with."
Nitrous is a special gas that you can add to a car's engine to make it go faster for a short time. It helps the engine burn more fuel and makes the car more powerful.
Nitrous oxide, commonly called nitrous, is a performance-enhancing gas injected into an engine to increase power by providing more oxygen for combustion. It is often used in drag racing and other motorsports to temporarily boost horsepower.
"I personally enjoyed the Fairmont that you guys had Corey LaJoy drive eventually. Wasn't that what it was? It was a Fairmont, right? I think it was. Yeah. Yeah. Rick Flairmont."
The Ford Fairmont is a type of car made by Ford a long time ago. People sometimes use it for car projects because it can be fast and fun to drive.
The Ford Fairmont was a mid-size car produced by Ford in North America from 1978 to 1983. It was often used as a base model for various modifications and has a place in muscle car culture for its potential as a lightweight platform.
"when a race car driver gets in a car every now and then, it's just like days of thunder, like there's a race car driver, you know, when you see it. And when he took his first pass, like, holy smokes. All right, that's a race car driver."
A race car driver is someone who drives cars very fast in races. They are very skilled and take a lot of risks to win.
A race car driver is a professional or amateur driver who competes in motorsport events, often pushing cars to their limits in controlled environments. Their driving style is aggressive and precise, focusing on speed and control.
"And I never got a ticket. Really? And we got pulled over once for driving too slow in the Maserati and impeding traffic."
Impeding traffic means driving too slowly or in a way that blocks other cars from moving normally on the road.
Impeding traffic refers to driving in a way that slows down or obstructs the normal flow of vehicles on the road, which can be a traffic violation in many jurisdictions.
""And for almost everyone and him involved, him too, it's a paid-to-play sport. You've got to bring some talent. Oh, yeah. That's the game.""
In some sports like racing, you have to pay money or find sponsors to be able to compete. It's not just about being good; you need money to get a chance to race.
A paid-to-play sport is one where participants must provide their own funding or sponsorship to compete, often covering costs like equipment, travel, and entry fees. In racing, this means drivers often need financial backing to secure a seat on a team.
"...you broke your tibia, you ripped your ACL completely in half and your meniscus is screwed up."
The ACL is a strong band inside your knee that keeps it steady. If it tears, your knee can feel wobbly and might need surgery to fix it.
The ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is a key ligament in the knee that helps stabilize the joint. A complete tear often requires surgery and extensive rehabilitation.
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