Produced by Motor Trend Group, Roadkill is a brainchild of two genuine and sincere car fanatics and magazine editors. It was destined to be real. Very few car shows come close to what Roadkill serves. Hosted by Chief Editor David Freiburger and his associate Mike Finnegan, this web series started humble, streaming from YouTube in 2012, before moving on to the MotorTrend streaming service in 2018.

It was not supposed to be a show because all Freiburger and Finnegan wanted was to post their fun trips online. Frankly, no TV show can be a hundred percent real, as reality can often be boring. Real-life does not feature guys behaving badly with cars every single day, which is the main reason we watch this show. Having said that, this series is the most real that any TV can be.

That is not the only plus point about the series. Unlike almost all the other auto shows out there, Roadkill has minimal drama and maximum guy stuff. Despite airing limited episodes per month and too few episodes per season, it has garnered a cult following. Fans love that the series is not only about car restoration but a documentary in essence, with loads of candid adventure comedy. It is a car show for real gearheads.

Updated July 2022: We have updated this article with the latest "Roadkill" buzz and also give you a peek at how the show has evolved for 2022.

Let’s dive deep into what’s real and fake about the mind-blowing Roadkill show.

This Is Real: They Are Real Professionals

Dragster rear third quarter burnout view
Roadkill Via Facebook

David Freiburger has always been around cars. He never had any jobs except in the automotive industry. He started his career at the Dodge dealership and moved on to a machine shop and then an aftermarket shop. In 1991, he landed a job at Hot Rod. He has also worked on 4 Wheel & Off-Road, and Car Craft among other popular publications.

Roadkill was not a debut for David, he has been and still features a lot on Hot Rod TV, live radio, and shows. Mike Finnegan is not a novice either. He has been working with MotorTrend Group since 2010. He is a semi-pro boat racer and has his own YouTube show called Finnegan's Garage which is very popular too.

These guys are in absolute contrast to those phony gel-haired and long-bearded, typical car show hosts on cable TV. They love cars and know their stuff. On top of that, they have this cool guy-next-door and goofy vibe that is pretty relaxed and relatable. According to the fans, this is the most decent and the most real car show out there and this is the truth behind the success of the Roadkill guys.

RELATED: David Freiburger Net Worth: Here's How Rich The Roadkill Host Is Today

That Is Fake: The Ugly Truckling Dragster Episode 76

Roadkill Dodge Charger burnout front third quarter view
Roadkill Via Facebook

One of the top ten Roadkill episodes is number 76. Though the episode in question seemed to lack all the high points that Roadkill is loved for. The star of the show was a 5,800 pounds 1993 GMC Sierra, the project was to strip it down as much as possible and take it to Tucson Dragway in Arizona from Irwin Dale Speedway in California, through the Zip-Tie Drags.

The Sierra was upgraded and had a 454 big block engine mounted in the middle. Foremost, Mike was hardly there in the building. Assembled in that short time, it didn't seem very feasible that the truck could hit a high of 12 seconds run with that build.

Moreover, since Finnegan was not there, only Freiburger, Steve, Costa, and Calin Head were shown to be working on the truck. Though, some behind-the-scenes facts about the show Roadkill explain that there were more than just the four of them in the garage, working that day.

RELATED: 15 Surprising Facts About The General Lee Dodge Charger

This Is Real: Small Crew For The Works

Roadkill corvette on the road hd wallpaper
Roadkill Via Facebook

The crew is really small. The hosts make do with the little stuff they have, and they like to have as few people as possible. The duo does most of the stuff themselves along with a couple of cameramen and one or two assistants. They have frequent visitors of course like Lucky Costa, Tony Angelo, Steve Brulè, etc. who co-host sometimes and help with the cars, but they are guest stars.

These dudes don't take the best caravans for the road trips, rather they like to choose ragged-out cars and work on them before they step out in the sun. The fun you see is real. Most television shows try to fake that they are having fun, but it almost always looks scripted. Not Roadkill. These guys are friends, and they love to go out on impromptu trips.

The series does not have a script. For a single episode, the team walks out for five to seven days without a plan and just has fun. What you see on screens is pretty much what they feel. Chemistry has a magical way of translating itself onto the screens if it is real, and that's what happens here. Roadkill is raw magic, and it is quite painful to point out anything fake here, which is way more than what the so-called car shows can boast of.

Roadkill Is Wilder In 2022

Customized car taking part in Roadkill episode
Roadkill Via Facebook

Roadkill is in full swing and the Episode 7 of Season 11 just aired on June 27, 2022, on Motortrend's official streaming service. The duo embarks on a road trip in a rusty 1971 Pontiac T-71 across New England. The fanbase for this wild duo and their adrenaline-pumping automotive creations are clearly on the rise. Despite having a stash of fakery fused into the reality show, people enjoy it wholeheartedly. And we don't see the Roadkill baton fading away anytime soon!

Sources: Roadkill Via Facebook, Motortrend Group