Today, it was published by Motor Trend Group, formerly known as TEN: The Enthusiast Network and Source Interlink Media.

[5] In December 2024, Hearst Communications acquired Motor Trend Group and most of its assets including Hot Rod from Warner Bros.

[6] Hot Rod has a strategic relationship with Universal Technical Institute,[7] referring to UTI as its sponsor.

It began in 1995 when Hot Rod staff members decided to take some of their project cars on a cross-country drive from Los Angeles, California to Norwalk, Ohio.

Burnout: Championship Drag Racing (1998) was licensed by Hot Rod.