Beloved 2000s Sitcom Star Involved in NASCAR Crash

Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek’s network of contributors

Frankie Muniz, perhaps best known for his role in the 2000s sitcom Malcolm in the Middle, was involved in a startling crash on Friday, November 8.

After racing in the Craftsman Truck Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona, 38-year-old Muniz was seen limping into an ambulance after the crash, as shown in a video posted by a reporter on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Despite the hard impact, Muniz assured reporters that he was fine following the race. In another video posted to X, the actor-turned-NASCAR driver gave a detailed account of how the crash unfolded, explaining, “There was nowhere for me to go. I got hit from behind. I got hit from behind into the 42, and the 18 was right there stopped. I went right into him.”

Reflecting on his performance to reporters, Muniz shared that the race offered him valuable opportunities to improve. “I felt like I got a good opportunity to run with some guys, I made some passes,” he said. “Lost a few spots on restarts, then went back out and passed them again. It was good for me to figure out how to get by people. I haven’t really gotten to do that much this year, so that was really positive.”

Looking ahead, Muniz remained optimistic about the future, saying in the video that, “We’re going to be better next year. I’ve got the whole off-season to prepare, and we’re going to go get it.”

Muniz made his debut in the NASCAR Xfinity Series earlier this year and has been racing full-time since January 2023. Before that, he made a name for himself with his fan favorite role on Malcolm in the Middle, plus early 2000s roles in movies like Big Fat Liar and Agent Cody Banks.

Muniz’s passion for racing began in 2004, and by 2006 (the same year Malcolm in the Middle ended), he was competing professionally. Two years later, he opted to put his acting career on hold to pursue an open-wheel racing career.

Reflecting on the difference between acting and racing, Muniz explained during a Dirty Mo Media podcast appearance, “The one amazing thing about [NASCAR] that I love, definitely compared to being an actor, is it’s not subjective… if you’re good and you belong, you’re at the top of the leaderboard. At least [you] can see where you stand. I love that.”