The actor who became a racecar driver

Paul Newman, the Oscar-winning American actor, famously became a professional racecar driver and later a championship-winning team owner, building a second career that included multiple SCCA national titles, a runner-up finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1979, and a class victory at the 1995 Rolex 24 At Daytona. While several actors have tried their hand at competitive motorsport, Newman stands out for the depth and longevity of his achievements on track and in team ownership.

Who he was

Known worldwide for films like The Hustler, Cool Hand Luke, and The Verdict, Paul Newman (1925–2008) was also a serious competitor in American and international motorsport. He balanced acting with an intense racing schedule for decades, translating discipline from the set to the circuit and earning respect from peers as more than a celebrity hobbyist.

From screen to circuit

The film that sparked a passion

Newman’s pivot to racing began with the 1969 movie Winning, a drama set around the Indianapolis 500. Preparing for the role led him to high-performance driving schools—most notably with instructor Bob Bondurant—where he discovered a genuine competitive edge and feel for the car. By the early 1970s, he was racing in SCCA events and steadily progressing to top-level sports-car and endurance races both in the United States and abroad.

Career highlights

The following timeline outlines key milestones that show how Newman evolved from actor-driver to bona fide racing figure, both behind the wheel and as a team owner.

1. 1969: Trained extensively for Winning, igniting a lasting commitment to motorsport.
2. Early 1970s: Entered Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) competition, quickly earning credibility in production and GT categories.
3. 1979: Finished second overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Porsche 935 with Dick Barbour Racing—one of the most prestigious results by a Hollywood figure in motorsport.
4. 1983: Co-founded Newman/Haas Racing with Carl Haas, a team that would become a powerhouse in American open-wheel racing.
5. 1980s: Won multiple SCCA national championships, demonstrating sustained speed and racecraft at the amateur-to-semi-pro level.
6. 1995: Won his class at the Rolex 24 At Daytona at age 70 with Roush Racing, an endurance feat that underscored his longevity and fitness.
7. 2000s: Continued to race select events and remained active as a team owner and mentor, cementing his dual legacy in film and motorsport.

Taken together, these milestones show that Newman’s racing career was neither a publicity stunt nor a brief detour—he competed, won, and led at levels that earned him long-term respect from professionals.

Team owner legacy

Newman’s impact extended beyond his own driving. Newman/Haas Racing dominated large stretches of American open-wheel racing, winning multiple CART/Champ Car titles with legends including Mario Andretti (1984), Michael Andretti (1991), Nigel Mansell (1993), Cristiano da Matta (2002), and Sébastien Bourdais (2004–2007). The team’s consistency, engineering depth, and driver development turned it into a benchmark operation and made Newman one of the sport’s most successful celebrity owners.

Other actors who seriously raced

While Paul Newman is the most prominent example, several other actors have competed in organized motorsport at varying levels. The examples below illustrate the breadth of participation—from endurance classics to national series and historic racing.

• Patrick Dempsey: Multiple Le Mans starts and a GTE-Am podium in 2015; co-owner of Dempsey-Proton Racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
• Steve McQueen: Notably finished second overall at the 1970 12 Hours of Sebring; helped popularize endurance racing through filmmaking and personal competition.
• James Dean: Promising SCCA amateur racer in the 1950s whose career was cut short by his fatal 1955 road accident.
• Jason Priestley: Competed in junior open-wheel and sports-car series; survived a serious crash in 2002 during an Indy Pro Series test.
• Frankie Muniz: Raced in ARCA Menards Series and has competed in NASCAR development series, reflecting a sustained, multi-year commitment to stock-car racing.
• Rowan Atkinson: Regular competitor in historic and club-level events, including at Goodwood, respected for his skill in classic machinery.

These examples highlight that while celebrity entries draw headlines, only a handful—Newman chief among them—combined competitive results, endurance credentials, and leadership as a team owner.

Why Newman stands out

Newman didn’t just participate—he excelled over decades, balancing acting with rigorous training, racecraft, and tactical intelligence on track. His Le Mans podium and Daytona class win validate his abilities at the highest levels of endurance racing, and Newman/Haas Racing’s championship tally underscores his influence on the sport’s competitive landscape.

Summary

Answer: Paul Newman. He transformed from acclaimed actor to accomplished racecar driver and team owner, earning major results such as a 1979 Le Mans runner-up finish and a 1995 Daytona class win, along with multiple SCCA titles. Although other actors have competed seriously, Newman’s sustained success and the dominance of Newman/Haas Racing make him the defining case of an actor who became a racecar driver in every meaningful sense.

Who is the actor turned NASCAR driver?

The most prominent actor-turned-NASCAR driver is Frankie Muniz, known for his starring role in Malcolm in the Middle. Muniz transitioned from acting to racing in the ARCA Menards Series before becoming a full-time driver in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2025, a culmination of his lifelong passion for motorsports. 
Frankie Muniz’s Journey to NASCAR

• Early Acting Career: Opens in new tabMuniz became a child star known for the hit sitcom Malcolm in the Middle. 
• Shift to Open-Wheel Racing: Opens in new tabAfter his acting career, Muniz began focusing on motorsports, participating in the Atlantic Championship series. 
• Stock Car Racing: Opens in new tabHe moved to stock car racing, competing in the ARCA Menards Series in 2023 and picking up several top-10 finishes. 
• Full-Time NASCAR Driver: Opens in new tabIn 2025, Muniz began his first full-time season as a NASCAR driver in the Craftsman Truck Series. 
• Passion for Cars: Opens in new tabHis love for cars dates back to his childhood, with desires for remote control cars and watching races from a young age. 

What famous actor was also a race car driver?

James Dean, Paul Newman, and Patrick Dempsey are among the most famous actors who also raced cars. Aside from having successful acting careers, Gene Hackman, Steve McQueen, and James Garner also participated in several races.

What celebrity turned into a NASCAR driver?

Frankie Muniz is going to have to put his second career as a racecar driver on hold for a bit. The former “Malcolm In the Middle” and “Agent Cody Banks” actor said Thursday he broke his wrist in a fall from a ladder. He will miss his next NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race and several more weeks after that.

Is Jann Mardenborough still racing?

Yes, Jann Mardenborough is still actively racing. He is competing in the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup for HRT Ford Performance as a Ford factory driver, a position he secured after landing a full-time racing seat in 2025 following several one-off races in the preceding years. Mardenborough also returned to the Masters Historic Racing stage in 2025 and drove as a stunt driver in the “Gran Turismo” movie based on his life. 
Recent Racing Activities

• 2025: Returned to full-time racing with HRT Ford Performance in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup and was a Ford factory driver. 
• 2024: Competed in the British GT series, finishing third in one event to prove himself again after a period of other activities. 
• 2023: Competed in various races, including the Super Taikyu 24 Hours of Fuji. 

The “Gran Turismo” Connection

• Jann Mardenborough’s path from a gamer to a professional racer was dramatized in the 2023 movie Gran Turismo. 
• He also served as a stunt driver in the film.