Frankie Muniz is used to the big stage.
A former child star, Muniz — also known by his alter egos Malcolm Wilkerson and Agent Cody Banks — graced the marquees as a teenager, enjoying a prolific and profitable career as an actor.
Now 38, the "Malcolm in the Middle" star is still living his wildest dreams. They just happen to involve a racecar rather than a movie script.
Muniz participated in his first career Xfinity Series race Monday night, taking the reins of the No. 35 car for Joey Gase Racing for the United Rentals 300. He finds himself just one step away from the NASCAR Cup Series, the premier level of stock car racing in the United States.
The 2023 season was a glittering one for Muniz, who notched 11 top-10 finishes in the ARCA Menards series, which sits one tier below Xfinity. Although he failed to capture a checkered flag, he claimed one top-five finish (a fifth-place showing at Michigan) and ended the campaign ranking fourth in postseason points.
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Muniz is no rookie, at least not in the traditional sense. He's far older than the majority of drivers he's competing against. For example, he's double the age of Sammy Smith, the reigning Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year.
Still, his name recognition, coupled with a decent bit of skill, makes Muniz a compelling prospect in the second tier. And his ascendance is sure to attract intrigue among the masses of racing fans — especially those hoping to witness magic at Daytona, the host of Muniz's first run in the (almost) big leagues.
Where did Frankie Muniz finish in United Rentals 300?
Muniz finished in 33rd place out of 38 cars in his Xfinity Series debut at Daytona. He got caught in a wreck on the 37th lap of the 120-lap United Rentals 300, ending his race early.
As a part-time driver for Joey Gase Racing, Muniz wasn't necessarily expected to stand out from the pack, especially in his maiden run in the division. Still, he jumped all the way to 13th at one point in the early going at the Daytona International Speedway.
Still, despite the disappointment, Muniz should have plenty more opportunities to express himself on the track. Whether he can beat the learning curve is the real question.
“I’m excited to prove to people that I can race in this series,” Muniz told the Associated Press. "...Everybody out there is good. I don’t want to call it self-doubt. It has nothing to do with that. I just have to prove it to myself as soon as we get on track. Hopefully we can do that.”
