David Freiburger is an automotive journalist and longtime car-media personality whose career spans enthusiast magazines, racing events, and video series. He joined Petersen Publishing’s HOT ROD staff in 1991, later became the magazine’s editor, and worked with Mike Finnegan on the automotive adventure videos that became Roadkill.
Print journalism and magazine editing
1. He began publishing automotive writing in 1989
Freiburger says his first published automotive article appeared in 4WDrive Action in 1989. He then wrote for Chrysler Power before joining Petersen Publishing as a HOT ROD staff editor in 1991. These dates come from his first-person career retrospective published by HOT ROD.
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Roadkill: Maneater Series | $13.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Road Kill (Fangoria FrightFest) | $14.87 | Buy on Amazon |
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Masterpiece: Roadkill | $16.23 | Buy on Amazon |
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Joy Ride 3: Roadkill | $35.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
![Road Kill [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51HYHVNK9WL._SL160_.jpg)
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Road Kill [DVD] | $4.29 | Buy on Amazon |
2. He edited several enthusiast magazines
In the same retrospective, Freiburger says he was editing 4-Wheel & Off-Road by 1995, followed by work at Car Craft and Rod & Custom. He became editor of HOT ROD in 2001.
3. He spent 12 years as HOT ROD editor-in-chief
A 2020 MotorTrend profile says Freiburger held the editor-in-chief position for 12 years and describes him as the longest-tenured editor-in-chief in the magazine’s 72-year history at that time. Those are the profile’s historical claims, not a newly verified record.
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Events and racing
4. He helped create HOT ROD Drag Week
MotorTrend credits Freiburger with creating HOT ROD Drag Week. In his own retrospective, he also says he created Pump Gas Drags and was a fringe member of the team that launched HOT ROD Power Tour.
5. He joined the Bonneville 200 MPH Club in 2004
Freiburger identifies joining the Bonneville 200 MPH Club in 2004 as his favorite magazine story and credits racing partners Keith and Tonya Turk. This milestone is reported in his HOT ROD career retrospective.
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Video series and later career
6. Roadkill grew from adventure videos with Mike Finnegan
Freiburger recounts that around 2011 he began making car-adventure videos with HOT ROD colleague Mike Finnegan. The videos became Roadkill, made for the MotorTrend channel.
7. He hosted several automotive series
In a 2020 account, Freiburger described hosting Roadkill Garage with Steve Dulcich and co-hosting Engine Masters with Steve Brule and Dulcich, alongside Roadkill and $3K Hooptie Challenge. This is a historical list of series, not a statement of his current schedule.
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8. He has described himself as an automotive journalist
In a June 2025 HOT ROD interview, Freiburger said he had always considered himself an automotive journalist, while also joking about how video work can feel like “a teenager’s job.” In the same interview, he expressed reservations about labels such as “influencer” and “YouTuber.”
9. A 2025 profile reported that Roadkill production had ended
A HOT ROD profile published June 12, 2025, reported that MotorTrend Studios ended production of the original Roadkill series and its spinoffs in November 2024, after 13 seasons. This is what that 2025 profile reported; it does not establish any later developments.
Rank #4
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10. The same profile described plans for new work
The June 2025 profile reported that Freiburger was developing The David Freiburger Channel on YouTube and preparing to report from NHRA drag-racing pits for Fox Sports. Those were plans and activity reported at the time, not verified current roles or programming in October 2026.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
Who is David Freiburger?
David Freiburger is an automotive journalist and video host known for his work at HOT ROD and for automotive series including Roadkill. His career also includes enthusiast magazine editing and the creation of racing events.
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When did David Freiburger join HOT ROD?
Freiburger says he joined Petersen Publishing as a HOT ROD staff editor in 1991, after beginning freelance automotive writing in 1989.
How did Roadkill begin?
Freiburger says he and HOT ROD colleague Mike Finnegan started making car-adventure videos around 2011. Those videos led to Roadkill for the MotorTrend channel.
What happened to Roadkill?
A HOT ROD profile published in June 2025 reported that production of the original series and its spinoffs ended in November 2024 after 13 seasons. The available research does not establish later developments.
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