Donut Media

Donut Media is an American automotive entertainment and digital-media brand built around highly produced, personality-driven video content. Its primary outlet is the Donut YouTube channel, supplemented by related channels and formats including Donut Podcasts and Real Mechanic Stuff. The company combines automotive history, engineering explainers, vehicle modification, motorsport, product testing, comedy, and creator-led storytelling rather than presenting itself as a conventional automotive news publisher. The business was founded in 2015 by Matt Levin, Ben Conrad, and Nick Moceri. Levin had previously worked as a product leader at AwesomenessTV. Donut's first video concerned the 24 Hours of Lemons, an amateur endurance-racing event, establishing an early focus on accessible and entertaining car culture. The channel gained wider attention through viral material, including the 2016 video "Two Grannies, One Lamborghini." In 2016, Donut introduced the format that developed into Up to Speed, initially using a video about the Nissan 240SX and later expanding into humorous histories of cars, brands, and automotive subcultures. Between 2018 and 2020, Up to Speed became the brand's central breakthrough format. Hosted primarily by James Pumphrey, the series explained the origins and cultural significance of vehicles such as the Nissan GT-R, Plymouth Barracuda, and Suzuki Samurai. The format helped Donut move beyond dependence on isolated viral videos toward repeatable programming with recognizable hosts, visual conventions, and a consistent editorial voice. Other notable programs included Science Garage, which explained vehicle systems and mechanical principles; Money Pit, which documented extensive modifications to project cars; HiLow, which contrasted expensive and inexpensive approaches to building similar vehicles; and Past Gas, a podcast about automotive history. Donut also pursued projects outside standard video publishing. In 2018 it received $800,000 in seed funding in a round led by Techstars Ventures and entered a content partnership with NASCAR. In 2021 it launched Stocky, a collectible toy-car project featuring stylized versions of real vehicles. On November 9, 2021, Donut was acquired by Recurrent Ventures, a digital-media company whose portfolio included automotive brands such as The Drive and Car Bibles, as well as titles in photography and outdoor recreation. The brand has extended its audience into interactive entertainment. It partnered with Forza Horizon 5 in 2022 and 2023, contributing Donut-themed story content, including a story based on HiLow. In 2023, Ubisoft's The Crew Motorfest launched with a Donut Media-branded playlist titled Rule The Streets: Presented By Donut. These partnerships reflected Donut's position as an automotive lifestyle and entertainment property rather than only a video channel. Donut's creator roster has also changed over time. Longstanding hosts Jeremiah Burton and Zach Jobe announced in June 2024 that they would leave to create BigTime. James Pumphrey announced his departure in August 2024 and said he would pursue an independent channel called Speeed with Jesse Wood. These departures represented a significant transition for a brand whose identity had been closely associated with recurring presenters. Donut remains an active automotive media brand, although its current programming mix, leadership roster, and post-departure editorial direction require ongoing verification.

Donut Media was established in 2015 by Matt Levin, Ben Conrad, and Nick Moceri as an automotive-focused digital publisher. Its initial strategy centered on making car culture approachable through short-form and long-form video with a comedic, highly produced presentation. The company's first video covered the 24 Hours of Lemons, an endurance-racing event known for inexpensive and unconventional race cars. A 2016 video featuring two grandmothers and a Lamborghini became an early viral success. The company began developing repeatable editorial formats in 2016. Up to Speed originated with a video presenting key facts about the Nissan 240SX and evolved into a recurring program about the history and cultural importance of cars, manufacturers, and automotive phenomena. James Pumphrey's energetic presentation became closely associated with the series. From 2018 through 2020, Up to Speed helped establish Donut as a recognizable automotive entertainment brand and demonstrated the value of recurring shows over isolated viral uploads. Donut broadened its programming through technical, news, instructional, and project-car formats. Science Garage examined vehicle components and mechanical principles in detail, while Bumper 2 Bumper covered engineering and automotive technology. Wheelhouse addressed broader automotive topics and news, and D-List used list-based storytelling. Money Pit documented the construction of modified project vehicles and included do-it-yourself guidance. HiLow created a competition between expensive and budget approaches to similar builds, including Nissan 350Zs, Toyota Tacomas, Subaru WRXs, and Ford Mustang GTs. Past Gas provided a podcast-led examination of important events in automotive history. In February 2018, Donut attempted a playful recreation of the Tesla Roadster space-launch stunt using a Hot Wheels-scale Tesla Roadster. The company subsequently obtained $800,000 in seed financing in May 2018 from a round led by Techstars Ventures. Later in 2018 it partnered with NASCAR to produce accessible racing content. In 2021, Donut introduced Stocky, a collectible toy-car project based on real vehicles but rendered with exaggerated, cartoon-like proportions. The first model was based on an Acura Integra Type R. Recurrent Ventures acquired Donut Media on November 9, 2021. The transaction placed Donut alongside other Recurrent automotive properties, including The Drive and Car Bibles, while preserving its identity as a creator-led automotive media brand. Donut also expanded into games and branded interactive experiences. A collaboration with Forza Horizon 5 in 2022 introduced Donut-related content, followed by a HiLow-themed story in 2023. The Crew Motorfest included a Donut-branded playlist at launch in September 2023. The brand entered a major talent transition in 2024. Jeremiah Burton and Zach Jobe announced in June that they were departing to create BigTime. James Pumphrey announced his departure in August and identified Speeed, a new channel with Jesse Wood, as his next independent project. Because Donut's programming had relied heavily on recurring hosts, these departures are an important change in its creative identity. Publicly documented information does not establish a complete current executive roster or the full shape of its post-2024 programming.

1. 2024Departure of prominent hosts

   Jeremiah Burton, Zach Jobe, and James Pumphrey announce departures and independent creator projects.

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2. 2023Expansion of gaming collaborations

   Forza Horizon 5 receives a HiLow-related story, while The Crew Motorfest launches with a Donut Media playlist.

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3. 2022Forza Horizon 5 collaboration begins

   Donut content appears in Forza Horizon 5 through a festival playlist and themed story.

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4. 2021Stocky collectible project launches

   Donut introduces a Kickstarter-backed line of stylized collectible cars.

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5. 2021Acquisition by Recurrent Ventures

   Recurrent Ventures acquires Donut Media on November 9.

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6. 2018Seed financing and NASCAR partnership

   Donut raises $800,000 in seed funding and partners with NASCAR on racing-related content.

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7. 2016Early viral growth and Up to Speed origins

   The channel gains attention through viral videos and begins developing the format that becomes Up to Speed.

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8. 2015Donut Media is founded

   Matt Levin, Ben Conrad, and Nick Moceri establish the automotive digital-media company.

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Automotive entertainment

• Up to SpeedAutomotive history video series2016

  Donut's signature history and culture format explains the origins, development, reputation, and enthusiast significance of cars, brands, and automotive subjects. The show uses humor, archival material, graphics, and host-led narration to make detailed automotive history accessible to a broad audience. It began with a Nissan 240SX facts video in 2016 and became a recurring series associated especially with James Pumphrey.

• HiLowVehicle modification series

  HiLow compares two approaches to building similar vehicles: one team receives comparatively expensive parts while the other works with budget alternatives. Featured projects included Nissan 350Zs, Toyota Tacomas, Subaru WRXs, and Ford Mustang GTs. The format turns modification choices, reliability problems, performance testing, and on-track results into a competitive entertainment narrative.

• Money PitProject-car and DIY series

  Money Pit documents the modification of project vehicles while explaining installation techniques and practical workshop work. Projects included Zach Jobe's Mazda Miata, a BMW 3 Series, and a 1996 Ford Ranger intended for trophy-truck-style development. The show combines mechanical instruction with the escalating costs, failures, and compromises of real enthusiast builds.

• Past GasAutomotive history podcast

  Past Gas is a podcast and secondary-channel program about significant events, personalities, technologies, and controversies in automotive history. Its presenters have included Nolan John Sykes, James Pumphrey, and Joe Weber. The show extends Donut's historical storytelling beyond video uploads and has also been distributed through podcast applications.

• Science GarageAutomotive engineering video series2017

  Science Garage explained automotive systems and components by combining mechanical demonstrations with accessible scientific and engineering discussion. Bart Bidlingmeyer hosted the series during its best-documented period. Its educational approach influenced the later Bumper 2 Bumper format, which covered related technical subjects.

• StockyCollectible toy cars2021

  Stocky was a collectible-car project developed through Kickstarter. The toys were based on real vehicles but used exaggerated proportions and cartoon-like styling. The first documented model represented an Acura Integra Type R, and the project was presented through Donut's automotive media ecosystem.

• 2023Forza Horizon 5 HiLow story

  Global digital release

  A second Forza Horizon 5 story was based on Donut's HiLow vehicle-build format.

  Outcome. The partnership connected a recurring Donut series with interactive gameplay and extended the brand's licensing presence.

  Source
• 2023The Crew Motorfest: Rule The Streets

  Global digital release

  The Crew Motorfest launched with a Donut Media playlist titled Rule The Streets: Presented By Donut.

  Outcome. The launch placement gave Donut branded visibility within another major driving game.

  Source
• 2022Forza Horizon 5 Donut collaboration

  Global digital release

  Donut collaborated with Forza Horizon 5 on the 14th Festival Playlist and a Donut-themed in-game story.

  Outcome. The collaboration brought Donut's formats and identity into a major automotive video-game environment.

  Source
• 2018NASCAR content partnership

  United States

  Donut partnered with NASCAR to create accessible, humorous racing-related content aimed at audiences beyond traditional motorsport coverage.

  Outcome. The partnership expanded Donut's association with organized racing and NASCAR's reach into creator-led digital entertainment.

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• 2024Response to host departuresOther

  Several of Donut's most recognizable presenters announced plans to pursue independent creator businesses.

  What changed. Jeremiah Burton and Zach Jobe announced BigTime, while James Pumphrey announced Speeed with Jesse Wood.

  Aftermath. The departures created a significant transition in Donut's on-screen talent and left the brand's longer-term programming direction unclear from the cited material.

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• 2021Sale to Recurrent VenturesM&A

  Donut had developed into a substantial automotive digital-media property with multiple shows and channels.

  What changed. Recurrent Ventures acquired Donut Media and added it to a portfolio that included other automotive and lifestyle media brands.

  Aftermath. Donut continued operating as a distinct automotive entertainment brand within Recurrent's broader digital-media group.

  Source
• 2021Launch of Stocky collectiblesProduct launch

  Donut sought to extend its audience relationship beyond video and merchandise.

  What changed. The company introduced a Kickstarter project for stylized collectible cars based on real vehicles.

  Aftermath. Stocky became an example of Donut's effort to turn its automotive content identity into physical products.

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• 2018Shift toward repeatable programmingStrategy

  Donut had initially benefited from individual viral videos but needed a more sustainable publishing model.

  What changed. The company developed recurring series, particularly Up to Speed, with consistent hosts and editorial formats.

  Aftermath. Up to Speed became a major driver of Donut's recognition and helped establish the brand as a recurring automotive entertainment publisher.

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• 2024Donut Media hosts announce departure to form BigTime

  Jeremiah Burton and Zach Jobe announced that they would leave Donut Media and establish a separate channel called BigTime.

  Leadership change
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• 2024James Pumphrey announces departure from Donut Media

  James Pumphrey announced that he would leave Donut Media and develop an independent channel named Speeed with Jesse Wood.

  Leadership change
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• 2022Donut Media and Forza Horizon 5 collaborate

  Donut Media partnered with Forza Horizon 5 on a festival playlist and a Donut-themed story.

  CampaignProduct launch
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• 2021Recurrent Ventures acquires Donut Media

  Recurrent Ventures acquired Donut Media, adding the automotive entertainment brand to its digital-media portfolio.

  M&A
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• 2018Donut Media receives seed funding

  Donut Media raised $800,000 in a seed round led by Techstars Ventures.

  Other
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• 2018Donut Media partners with NASCAR

  The company entered a partnership with NASCAR to produce lighthearted racing-related content.

  Campaign
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1. Donut Media
2. Donut Media official website
3. Donut Media official YouTube channel