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Welcome Back
to the Garage

This week’s episode opens a little differently—and Robert lets you know right away.

He’s out of town, likely already on his way home by the time this airs, so instead of the usual full-format show, this is a special edition built around a single feature guest: Mike Finnegan. But before getting there, Robert takes a moment to set the stage—and like always, it turns into a story.

Not a polished one. A real one.

He rewinds back to 2015, to the Hot Rod Power Tour—a week that wasn’t glamorous in any sense of the word. Long days, no sleep, hauling equipment, coordinating logistics, stepping in wherever needed. At one point even helping escort an ambulance into a venue for someone in serious distress. By the end of it, he’s running on fumes, directing traffic solo, battling a migraine, getting dropped at the airport just hoping to make the flight home.

And somewhere in the middle of all that… he meets Mike Finnegan.

No formal introduction. No big moment. Just dinner with a group, a conversation, and a connection that stuck. That one interaction turned into a friendship, which turned into a guest appearance on The MuscleCar Place, which eventually led to the creation of the Kibbe and Finnegan Show—and ultimately, what you’re listening to today.

Dallas Kibbe Racing
Building Something That Lasts

As soon as he’s back from spring break, it’s straight to work. He’s taking Dallas to Nashville for a prep session ahead of a major stretch of racing, with the Spring Nationals at Highland Rim and additional track time at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. For Dallas, this is all new territory—no prior experience at either track—so the focus is clear: get reps, get comfortable, and build confidence before the national event week in mid-April.

There’s a race scheduled even before that, giving Dallas a chance to get seat time and start dialing things in. The plan is simple—learn the tracks, stack experience, and then let it rip when it counts.

Because right now, April is all about focus.

Late model racing is likely on hold until at least May, as everything shifts toward this national Legends car opportunity. It’s a strategic decision—one that reflects where the biggest growth and opportunity are at this stage in his racing career.

Racing at this level isn’t cheap. Safety gear alone is a constant investment, and while he makes it clear he’ll always provide whatever is needed to keep his son safe, there’s a real push to bring on partners who believe in what Dallas is building. The ask is simple: follow, share, engage. Because in today’s world, those numbers matter—and they help open doors.

It’s not just about racing.

It’s about building something that can last.

Mike Finnegan – The Former of Everything Returns

Welcome back to the man who needs no introduction—but deserves one anyway. Mike Finnegan—radio host, TV personality, professional adventure-haver, Instagram megastar, and the mastermind behind Finnegan’s Garage on YouTube—joins us for another epic conversation. He’s the former host of Roadkill, Faster with Finnegan, and the Kibbe and Finnegan podcast, but he’s currently our favorite “former of everything.”

After the 2024 shutdown of original productions at Motor Trend, Mike is embracing what he calls the “Wild Wild West” of YouTube—a world free from the weird contracts and corporate exclusivity that once kept him from filming with his closest friends. While saying goodbye to Roadkill was bittersweet, Mike reveals why the timing was actually perfect. It allowed him to stop missing the most important moments of his kids’ teenage years while finally gaining the freedom to collaborate with friends and fellow creators like David Freiburger, Aaron and Emily Reeves of Flying Sparks Garage, and Shea Seefeldt whenever he wants.

The hero cars are not going anywhere, either. Mike shares the inside story of how he and Freiburger rescued fan favorites like Stubby Bob, the Death Metal Charger, the Rotson 240Z, and NASCarlo from the studio fleet to make sure they stay on the road. He is selling a few vehicles simply because he does not have room for all of them, but he is making sure they go to good homes—places where they will be appreciated, cared for, and hopefully continue their stories.

Back in the shop, the madness continues. Mike walks us through his massive Cadillac floor build, which involved custom-fabricated sheet metal so long he had to visit an elevator construction company just to find a brake big enough for the job. At Finnegan’s Garage, things are always interesting, and that is exactly why fans keep coming back to see what happens next.

It has not all been smooth sailing, though. Mike opens up about a recent dirt bike crash that proved, in his words, “I’m not 25 anymore,” resulting in a broken tibia, a torn ACL, and upcoming surgery followed by what could be a long rehab. Even with that setback, his passion for cars, fabrication, and the automotive world has not slowed down one bit.

He also weighs in on Cletus McFarland’s undeniable talent as he moves deeper into the NASCAR world, and what Cletus’ presence means for the attention NASCAR receives whenever he is involved. We also talk about the tough shoes to fill with the new Grand Tour cast, and why real-life chemistry is still the one thing you cannot fake on camera. Mike knows that firsthand from his experience launching Faster with Finnegan, where bringing in real friends as co-hosts made all the difference.

Catch Mike every Sunday on YouTube for new episodes of unscripted, unfiltered automotive mayhem. You can subscribe to his channel at YouTube.com/@FinnegansGarage or keep up with him on Instagram at Instagram.com/finnegan999. You can also check out Facebook.com/MikeFinneganNews, where he shares content, updates, and additional photos from everything else he has going on.

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This interview sponsored by our pals at National Parts Depot –
your premier source for muscle car restoration parts!