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Frankie Muniz latest actor-turned-driver out to prove he can compete in high-level racing

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It’s quite possible that Frankie Muniz is the only actor who has been nominated for an Emmy award and participated in a NASCAR event at Daytona. However, if Muniz had obtained his driver’s license before moving to Hollywood, we might never have known Malcolm from “Malcolm in the Middle.

When I’m behind the wheel of that race car, lower my visor, and speed out of the pit lane, it feels like I’m right where I belong,” he explained. “This is what I was meant to do, and this is precisely what I am doing.

And acting?

In my critique, I must confess, I’ve always struggled with the notion of being an exceptional actor. Don’t get me wrong, I have the skill to perform; it’s just that when I witness remarkable acting, I find myself uttering, “Wow, I could never reach those heights.

It’s indisputable that Muniz, who embarked on his acting career at the tender age of 12, has garnered recognition in a total of 26 films and 37 TV series. Among these numerous appearances, he famously played the lead role in “Malcolm in the Middle,” which was broadcast on Fox for seven years. This remarkable performance earned him not one but two Golden Globe nominations and an Emmy nod.

But acting was a profession. Racing is a passion.

He expressed his affection for racing, stating, “It’s the mix of excitement and all the feelings that I adore. The peaks are truly exhilarating, while the valleys can be astonishingly low. Incredible!

On Friday, Muniz finished 28th in the NASCAR Truck Series race held at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Currently, he ranks 23rd out of the 64 drivers in the series’ overall standings, having achieved one top-10 finish – which was during the season’s opening race at Daytona.

Muniz, aged 39, isn’t a newcomer to the idea of racing; there have been actors before him who dabbled in it. For instance, Paul Newman was a four-time SCCA national champion and came in second at the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans. Similarly, Patrick Dempsey, known for his roles in “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Can’t Buy Me Love,” has raced sports cars at Le Mans and the Rolex 24 at Daytona, among other series.

Muniz doesn’t merely dabble in driving; rather, he officially joined Reaume Brothers Racing based in North Carolina last October, securing the full-time driver role for their No. 33 Ford truck series team. Additionally, Muniz participated in two races within the NASCAR Xfinity Series last year.

Initially, when I embarked on my racing journey, I was thriving in my [acting] profession with numerous opportunities coming my way for films and series. However, Muniz, who began his stock-car career in the fall of 2021 in Bakersfield, chose to take a full-time driving position in the ARCA Menards Series in 2023 instead. He admitted, “I had the chance to continue in that field. But I was keen on exploring racing. To excel at the highest level, one must dedicate the same level of time and commitment as professional racers, correct?” He emphasized, “You can’t do it haphazardly.

As a child growing up in North Carolina, Muniz had a passion for racing long before he ventured into acting. His weekends would often start with him waking up early to catch IndyCar and NASCAR races on television, an interest that none of his family members shared. After his parents’ divorce when Muniz was just 8 years old, his mother relocated to Burbank, where he made his acting debut in the film “To Dance With Olivia” alongside Louis Gossett Jr., released in 1997.

Two years on, I found myself cast as the talented middle child of a troubled blue-collar family in the hit sitcom “Malcolm in the Middle.” Even then, the allure of motorsports never waned. Having dabbled in celebrity races, I decided to take a break from acting twice: first in 2007, just after Malcolm concluded its seven-season run and 151 episodes, when I embarked on a three-year stint in the Atlantic Championship racing series.

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The upcoming Coronado race next summer, a result of years of meticulous planning and negotiations, will mark the inaugural NASCAR event held on an operational military base.

Despite living in Scottsdale, Ariz. with his wife Paige and their 4-year-old son Mauz, Muniz persistently faces the accusation that he’s merely a part-time racer, leveraging his Hollywood fame and wealth to indulge in his racing aspirations.

He stated, ‘I don’t use any of my funds for racing.’ To put an end to the gossip, he made a vow to his spouse not to participate in such activities.

Yet, those murmurs continue as Muniz hasn’t fully severed his connections with acting. Since the racing series doesn’t take place every weekend, with only 25 races between Valentine’s Day and Halloween, Muniz found time to film a “Malcolm in the Middle” reunion miniseries set to debut on Disney+ in December.

Apart from racing full-time, he’s been featured in a total of four other TV productions and movies since then. However, when it comes to his priorities, he unequivocally emphasizes his dedication to driving.

He mentioned that if his goal was just for casual racing, he wouldn’t be participating in the truck series. Instead, he’d likely race at his local track or in SCCA club events. His ambition, however, is to become one of the top drivers and reach as far up the NASCAR ladder as possible. To achieve this, he’s putting in all the effort required.

In the expensive realm of NASCAR, fame beyond racing can be both advantageous and challenging. On one hand, it offers opportunities like rides and sponsorships that others may not get access to; however, on the flip side, it might stir envy in the pit crew, as some drivers believe that a rival’s popularity rather than talent is responsible for their success. Muniz isn’t the only new driver who has experienced this issue.

Toni Breidinger, who recently placed 27th in a race and currently leads Muniz by one position and eight points in the season standings with only nine races remaining, is not just a successful model but also an accomplished racer. She has graced the covers of Victoria’s Secret, Glamour, GQ, and Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit edition. However, her prowess behind the wheel on the racetrack predates her strides down the catwalk by many years.

Breidinger stated, “I’ve always been a racer at heart. It’s my true passion.” She began racing go-karts in Northern California when she was just 9 years old. “Modeling has given me the opportunity to support that passion,” she added. “However, I view myself as a racer above all else. That’s what I’ve always aspired to be and it’s the career I’ve always wanted.

In my perspective, I view these two passions of mine as harmonious rather than conflicting. You see, when I grace the red carpet events like the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles recently, it not only boosts my modeling career but also offers additional value to the sponsors of my racing team. These esteemed brands such as 818 Tequila, Dave & Buster’s, and Coach gain increased visibility through my appearances, enhancing their own market presence while I continue to excel in both worlds.

Breidinger, aged 26 with a mixed heritage of German and Lebanese lineage, explained, “Everything ties into my racing career; all the additional income gets reinvested.” He affectionately refers to these supplementary endeavors as ‘side gigs’. He assures that this doesn’t diminish his identity as a race car driver.

16-year-old Breidinger, victor of the USAC western asphalt midget series title, competed in the ARCA Menards Series for five years before transitioning to the truck series in 2021, creating NASCAR history by placing 15th in her inaugural race, a record-breaking debut for any female driver. This achievement opened doors, securing her a full-time position this season with Tricon Garage, Toyota’s premier team in the truck series.

Similar to Muniz, Breidinger regards the truck series, which is the third tier of NASCAR’s national racing series, as a rung on the ladder towards securing a spot in a Cup car.

I’m on a journey to scale the heights of success, that’s my purpose here,” she expressed. “My ambition doesn’t end today or tomorrow; it stretches far into the future. I am a highly competitive individual, particularly when it comes to pushing my own limits.

Kyle Larson, who ascended to the pinnacle after making his first NASCAR national series race appearance in a truck back in 2012 and eventually claiming the 2021 Cup title nine years later, remarked that the route he traveled, as well as the paths Muniz and Breidinger are currently treading, is a familiar and trodden one.

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As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but express my enthusiasm for the potential development of a short track at the former Auto Club Speedway site in Fontana, Southern California – a region that NASCAR seems eager to maintain its connection with. Yet, it appears they are not entirely ready to make a firm commitment to this project, which leaves me hopeful but slightly uncertain about its future.

“Anybody racing in any of the three series has talent and ability enough to be there,” he said.

It’s often financial resources, rather than talent or skill, that dictate how quickly a driver can progress, which could potentially be an issue for Muniz as Josh Reaume, owner of the small three-truck team he drives for, has expressed concerns about the rising costs of racing. Each year, it can cost over $3.5 million to maintain a competitive truck in this 25-race series, and these expenses are escalating, putting pressure on many teams and potentially pushing them out of the sport.

Speaking about Muniz and Breidinger, Larson noted that their presence in NASCAR could be beneficial for the entire series. This is because they might draw in new fans and sponsors who may not have shown interest in the sport before.

Larson expressed his hope that Muniz will find himself in a position where we can truly appreciate his skills, especially when driving a superior vehicle capable of racing ahead. We all root for him to triumph because such success would undoubtedly benefit our sport.

Who among the NASCAR champions has ventured into the glamorous world of Hollywood?

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2025-07-27 14:31

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