Actor Frankie Muniz Finishes Tenth At Daytona

Actor Frankie Muniz has been proving critics wrong as he continues to race in NASCAR, especially with his performance at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 15. The Malcom in the Middle star was able to finish in tenth place for the Craftsman Truck Series, making him one of the few Hollywood elites to really get into competitive racing.

NASCAR’s Open Exemption Provisional rule has been the subject of increasing criticism.

This was Muniz’s debut race as a full-time NASCAR driver. He initially qualified fourteenth, proving that he’s more than just some entitled celebrity trying to steal the spotlight from legitimate racers.

On that note, Fox did a hilarious series of interviews with drivers in the Craftsman Truck Series who didn’t even know who Muniz is, claiming to have never seen his TV shows. In other words, he was just another competitor to them and received no special treatment on the track.

And in this series of videos, those truck series drivers we talked to who had never watched (or I guess forgot/didn't know that they watched if they did) Frankie Muniz on television and film. @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/K4gBeznxNg

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 13, 2025

What made the race even more special for Muniz was that it was the man’s first one after he started racing full-time in NASCAR. He had competed in a few races before, splitting his time between than and other endeavors.

Muniz made his debut in NASCAR on June 28, 2024 during the Rackley Roofing 200. That race ended much differently for the actor after his truck overheated on lap 86. He finished in position 31, lamenting the result afterward.

In other words, Muniz is improving as he’s getting more time behind the wheel in competition.

Back in October 2024 he announced that this year he would start racing in NASCAR full time. The announcement shocked many after some assumed his foray into NASCAR was a publicity stunt or some fleeting early midlife crisis episode. Instead, it seems Muniz is serious about becoming a true racing success. His grit is admirable.

Image via frankiemuniz4/Instagram