"Malcolm in the Middle" is jumping into a much bigger pond. Actor Frankie Muniz, who played Malcolm in the TV series and also starred in the lead role in Agent Cody Banks, will be making a big step up in his career.
The actor-turned-racer will be competing part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2024 driving the No. 35 Ford for Joey Gase Motorsports, starting with the season-opening race at Daytona.
Thanks to @Skewcar_ on X for sharing Muniz's post on Instagram about his big news.
— Skewcar (@Skewcar_) February 9, 2024
Muniz spent 2023 as a full-time driver in the ARCA Menards Series, where he proved to be a pretty good driver for Rette Jones Racing. He finished 4th in the points with one top-five finish and 11 top 10s, His best finish was fifth at Michigan International Speedway.
Muniz knows this is a huge step and he said so in a press release via CBS Sports, but he's ready for the challenges that lie ahead.
"I know that moving up to Xfinity is a big leap for me, given my limited experience in stock cars," Muniz said. "I understand the challenges ahead and know it will not always be easy. I want to thank Wayne Auton and Brett Bodine at NASCAR for believing in me and allowing me to compete in the Xfinity Series this season. I know that I have an enormous amount to learn, but you won't find someone more dedicated than I am when it comes to chasing a dream."
This is a huge step for the 38-year-old, but he proved in his ARCA races that he has a natural talent for car control. Competing in ARCA, he also made starts at a lot of tracks on the NASCAR circuit, including Daytona, where he finished 11th in his first start last February.
It's not clear what his whole 2024 schedule looks like yet but rest assured Frankie "Malcolm" Muniz will certainly be in the middle of all the action this weekend.
