Hollywood Star Turned Driver Frankie Muniz Suffers Heartbreaking Fate at Kansas Amid Dream 2023 Run

The ARCA Menards series, which kicked off on Feb. 18 at Daytona International Speedway, showcased a fresh lineup of racers, some of whom hadn’t been regulars on the track before. Among these fresh faces was none other than Frankie Muniz, the star of the hit Fox sitcom Malcolm in the Middle.

While Muniz’s racing escapade, which revved up in 2004, showed initial promise, it appears he’s hit a bit of a speed bump lately. Case in point: During the Sioux Chief Fast Track 150 race, with the finish line just 50 laps away, Muniz found himself kissing the outer wall and bowing out of the race, finishing P18.

Muniz talks about the disaster-after-disaster scenario ahead of the Kansas Speedway weekend

Friday at Kansas Speedway was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride for many ARCA Menards Series racers, as several found themselves playing bumper cars with the wall before even clocking lap 50. The fresh face behind the wheel of the No. 30 Ford Mustang was no exception to this chaotic dance.

As the finish line was just a few laps away, Frankie Muniz, cruising in the top 10, had a date with disaster. The No. 30 Rette Jones Racing Ford Mustang took a hard swing into the outer wall upon leaving turn four, courtesy of a mischievous right front tire.

The No. 30 car clung to the wall, navigating the circuit’s unique geometry, before diving into the first curve. Muniz managed to disembark solo and was promptly ushered to the on-site medical hub. Coming out of the medical center with a clean bill of health, Muniz lamented the stormy cloud that seems to have settled over what began as a sun-kissed maiden season for the Rette Jones Racing driver.

As per tobychristie.com, Muniz said, “It’s been really tough the last seven or so races that we’ve had; we’ve just had really, really bad luck. I used to come to the track, and we were exceeding expectations. It was a really positive beginning to the season, and I felt like I was learning a lot. And really, minus Michigan, since Pocono, we’ve had disaster after disaster happen. A lot of it has been out of my hands, unfortunately.”

The premature exit from the race must have stung, especially given his palpable anticipation. Moreover, a series of hiccups, which he had flagged even before the Kansas Speedway showdown, seem to have become unwelcome passengers for Muniz.

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“Bit of a rough four or five weeks,” confesses the erstwhile star of Malcolm in the Middle

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During the previous showdown at DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, despite cruising within the top 10 and with a mere 45 laps to go, fate threw a wrench in Muniz’s run, landing him in a mishap that saw him wrap up at P12.

Ahead of the Kansas Speedway face-off, a visibly disheartened Muniz quipped during a press huddle, “It’s been a little bit of a rough four or five weeks. Our finishes haven’t been terrible, but we have certainly had things happen that have taken us out of the hunt for a stronger finish and the opportunity to gain some crucial points.”

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Yet, as the old adage goes, the best-laid plans often go awry. The Kansas Speedway added to the growing list of Muniz’s challenges. Prior to this race, he sat pretty at third in the rankings.

However, a cascade of mechanical gremlins and a fateful dance with Sean Corr and Hingorani in the second-to-last race plummeted him a daunting 150 points from the summit. All eyes will now be on Muniz to see if he can stage a comeback in the championship’s final trio of races.