In what was only his fifth career NASCAR Truck Series Start, actor turned racer Frankie Muniz celebrated his best-ever result with a P10 finish in Fresh From Florida 250. It was an eventful race, with the final lap seeing a caution, and Muniz was quick to think on his feet and take advantage of it.
Running in the middle of the pack before the caution, Muniz raced forward, crossing the finish line in 11th place. The former “Malcolm in the Middle” star was in for good news, with race winner Parker Kligerman being disqualified for violating the ride height regulations.
And having earned his first-ever top-10 finish in the Truck Series, all Muniz hopes for is more respect from his peers.
Frankie Muniz Hopes He Earns More Respect in NASCAR After Daytona 500
Speaking to Bob Pockrass following the accomplishment, the former Hollywood actor revealed how he hoped to earn respect after the season’s inaugural race. “Hopefully, I earn respect, and the only way to do that is to do it on track.”
He added that having finishes like the one in Daytona will also help his cause — making him a “smart driver” out on the NASCAR Speedways. However, there was a time when Frankie Muniz started second-guessing himself, as he decided to hang back in the opening stages.
Hoping for wrecks in the early stages, Muniz refrained from fighting the pack and was happy just to follow. But with no incidents to take advantage of, the Ford No. 33 driver thought his plan would backfire. In the end, though, it worked out well for the 39-year-old racer.
Additionally, he claimed that the events that unfolded in Daytona were not entirely down to luck. Given how things went for him last year, the Reaume Brothers Racing driver felt “really good” and is ready for the next week. Continuing to trust the Ford truck, Muniz now has his sights set on Talladega, wanting to prove himself even more.
With a 25-race schedule till November, Muniz has a lot on his plate. The 39-year-old also has a “Malcolm in the Middle” reunion shoot lined up in April, which will take up the majority of his week. Once the shoot is wrapped up, Muniz will head over to the race track and take part in the proceedings until Saturday. Should he be able to keep up such performances, the hectic schedule would hardly be a concern for the NASCAR driver.
