From Screen to Speedway: The Actor Who Became a NASCAR Driver
Frankie Muniz, best known for starring in the sitcom “Malcolm in the Middle,” is the actor who is now a NASCAR driver. After years of competing in various motorsport disciplines, Muniz moved into stock car racing, running a full ARCA Menards Series season in 2023 and making select NASCAR Xfinity Series starts in 2024 with Joey Gase Motorsports. His transition reflects a serious, sustained pursuit of professional racing rather than a one-off celebrity cameo.
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Who Is Frankie Muniz and How Did He Get Here?
Muniz rose to fame in the early 2000s as a child actor, but he has long harbored a passion for racing. He began competing in open-wheel feeder series and sports cars in the late 2000s, then pivoted decisively toward stock cars. In 2023, he completed a full season in the ARCA Menards Series, finishing inside the top tier of the championship standings and earning a reputation for consistency and composure. In 2024, he stepped into NASCAR’s national ladder with part-time starts in the Xfinity Series, aligning with Joey Gase Motorsports as he continues to build experience on larger stages and a wider variety of tracks.
What His NASCAR Path Looks Like
Muniz’s rise in stock car racing has been methodical, emphasizing seat time, track diversity, and adaptation from open-wheel and sports cars to heavier, draft-dependent machines. While still developing at the national level, he has embraced the grind of practice, qualifying, and race-day strategy that define NASCAR’s intensely competitive ecosystem.
Key Milestones in Muniz’s Racing Transition
The following points outline significant markers in Muniz’s journey from acting to stock car racing, showing how he built credibility and momentum within the NASCAR pipeline.
- Expanded motorsports background: Early stints in open-wheel and sports car series set a foundation for racecraft and discipline.
- Full-time ARCA Menards Series campaign (2023): Completed a full season, ran competitively, and finished high in the year-end standings.
- NASCAR Xfinity Series entries (2024): Joined Joey Gase Motorsports for select events, gaining national-series experience against deeper fields.
- Ongoing development: Continued testing, simulator work, and targeted race selection to accelerate learning on superspeedways, intermediates, and short tracks.
Taken together, these milestones reflect a measured, credible transition—one built on results and repetition rather than celebrity novelty.
Why It Matters Beyond the Headlines
Muniz’s progression is notable because it bridges pop culture and professional sport in a way that’s rare: he’s not merely participating; he’s pursuing a competitive trajectory. For NASCAR, it introduces new audiences while showcasing a viable development path through ARCA to Xfinity. For fans, it provides a human-interest storyline about reinvention and resilience in a demanding discipline.
Other Hollywood Names Who’ve Raced, for Context
While Muniz is the most prominent recent example of an actor competing in NASCAR’s development ladder and national series, a few other entertainers have raced competitively in different forms of motorsport, offering context for crossover success.
- Patrick Dempsey: Actor-turned-endurance racer with multiple Le Mans appearances and team ownership—primarily in sports cars, not NASCAR.
- Paul Newman: Acclaimed actor who became a serious sports car driver and team co-owner; a benchmark for celebrity-to-driver credibility.
- Rowan Atkinson: Known for Mr. Bean, he’s an avid enthusiast and club-level racer—again, outside NASCAR.
These examples illustrate that while Hollywood crossovers to racing aren’t new, Muniz’s specific commitment to stock car racing—and entry into NASCAR’s development and national ranks—sets his path apart.
What to Watch Next
As Muniz adds starts and track time, the key indicators will be qualifying pace, race craft in traffic, and adaptability across different circuits. Continued collaboration with smaller but resilient teams like Joey Gase Motorsports can provide the reps needed to attract broader opportunities, potentially expanding his NASCAR footprint in the near term.
Summary
Frankie Muniz is the actor now competing in NASCAR, evolving from a full ARCA Menards Series season in 2023 to part-time NASCAR Xfinity Series starts in 2024 with Joey Gase Motorsports. His trajectory underscores a serious, steady climb within stock car racing, bridging celebrity recognition with genuine competitive intent.
Is Frankie Muniz a race car driver now?
Yes, Frankie Muniz is a professional NASCAR driver, currently competing full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Reaume Brothers Racing in 2025. The former actor, known for Malcolm in the Middle, pivoted to a career in professional racing, which he began in 2006, and has since sought to prove himself in the NASCAR world.
His Path to NASCAR
- From Acting to Racing: After his successful acting career, Muniz moved to Arizona and began focusing on motorsports, a lifelong passion.
- Professional Career: He started his professional racing career in 2006 and has been involved in various series, including ARCA and Xfinity.
- Full-Time in 2025: In 2025, he became a full-time driver for Reaume Brothers Racing, driving an F-150 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
His Goals and Motivation
- Proving Himself: Muniz aims to demonstrate he belongs in NASCAR, driven by the clear results that racing provides, unlike the subjective nature of acting.
- Learning and Competing: Despite some bad luck and crashes, he uses his experiences to learn and improve, working towards better results and competing with other drivers.
What actor is now a race car driver?
Frankie Muniz
| Frankie Muniz | |
|---|---|
| Occupations | Actor racing driver |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Spouse | Paige Price ( m. 2019) |
| Children | 1 |
What celebrity became a NASCAR driver?
The primary example of a contemporary “celebrity” becoming a NASCAR driver is Frankie Muniz, the former child star of “Malcolm in the Middle”, who is now a full-time driver in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for the 2025 season. He pursued his passion for racing after his acting career and has competed in various series, including the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series, before securing a full-time ride.
Frankie Muniz’s Journey
- From Child Star to Racing Fan: Opens in new tabMuniz was a lifelong fan of motorsports but didn’t seriously pursue it until his acting career shifted.
- Early Racing Experience: Opens in new tabHe participated in Pro Celebrity races and later competed in Formula BMW USA and the Champ Car Atlantic Series in the mid-2000s.
- Stock Car Focus: Opens in new tabAfter a break from professional racing, Muniz began his stock car career in 2021.
- Full-Time in NASCAR: Opens in new tabHe made his NASCAR Xfinity debut in 2024 and is now a full-time driver for Reaume Brothers Racing in the Craftsman Truck Series for the 2025 season.
Other Notable Figures
While Muniz is a prominent current example, other celebrities have also been involved in motorsports:
- Paul Newman: Opens in new tabThe famous actor was a highly successful race car driver, winning national championships and being inducted into the Motor Sports Hall of Fame.
- Marty Robbins: Opens in new tabThe country music singer was a passionate racer who funded his own NASCAR team and competed part-time in the Winston Cup series from 1966 to 1982.
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.
