In racing, bad luck isn’t picky, it’ll chase down legends and rookies alike. Just ask Denny Hamlin, who’s racked up close to 60 Cup Series wins but somehow still can’t snag that elusive championship trophy. Or let’s take an even unluckier case. Remember the 2004 EA Sports 500 at Talladega? He was asked by an interviewer about having 5 wins at the track. Junior said it “didn’t mean s— cause daddy has 10“. Guess what? He was penalized 25 points for saying s— and fined $10000 as well. 21 years later, it still seems outrageous. So technically, NASCAR’s got a long, weird history of drivers cursed by circumstances beyond their control.

And now, Frankie Muniz, yep, Malcolm from Malcolm in the Middle, seems to be living in that same rough-luck neighborhood. The actor-turned-racer hit yet another brutal snag at Rockingham, and this one got messy. From power steering disasters to bruised hands and dented pride, Muniz was left scrambling to salvage what he could from a race that just wouldn’t quit bullying.

Frankie Muniz’s Rockingham run turns into a survival story

Frankie Muniz headed to Rockingham with optimism, hoping to shake off a string of tough breaks. At Bristol, he DNF’d and was placed 31st. A similar situation played out at Martinsville earlier – DNF’d and was placed 33rd. This time at Rockingham, the truck was fast, and confidence was high. But as fate would have it, disaster struck. “Right at the end of the last stage, my power steering line burst,” Muniz revealed. It was the start of what quickly turned into a painful, frustrating grind.

Despite the setback, Muniz refused to quit. He soldiered on, even as the physical toll mounted. “I think we went down like 17 or 18 laps. It’s really hard to be out there and do competitive lap times when you’re already kinda out of the racing by yourself. So, just trying to stay out of the way,” he explained. His focus shifted from racing for position to simply surviving and not interfering with the leaders. Remember Bristol, where he took out leaders Ty Majeski and Brandon Jones after he spun? Well, he didn’t want to repeat it, and rightly so.

Despite the chaos, the former Hollywood star still found flashes of pace. “This truck was actually really good. Really fast!” Muniz insisted. After the race, he imagined all the ‘what if’ scenarios and the likelihood of getting a decent finish, given the truck’s speed. “These are the ones where you go like, ‘Bam, what if, if we didn’t have that, we would have probably been maybe a top 15,'” Muniz said. The disappointment was evident.

Frankie Muniz closed out in 23rd place — a finish that felt hollow but valuable in its own way. “It’s a learning arc,” he admitted. The sting of missed potential was softened by his faith in the team. “They’re working really, really, really hard, and I’m just oddly cursed or something. I’ve got bad luck for almost two years straight.” Muniz laughed. Racing’s brutal sometimes, but he is still here, grinding hard. But, the real question is for how long?

Trending

1

Embarrassment for Joe Gibbs Racing as Early Leak Leaves NASCAR Fans Gutted

2

NASCAR Rumor: Rick Hendrick Pulls Away Toyota Prospect As Dale Earnhardt Jr. Lets Slip Major Xfinity Update

3

NASCAR’s Nearly $40 Billion Sponsor Sends Chilling Warning to the USA Over President Trump’s New Policies

4

NASCAR Fans Confused as Kyle Larson’s Insanity Forces Roger Penske to Bring the “Larson” Rule to IndyCar

5

Kevin Harvick Opens His Door For NASCAR’s Next Female Driver Switching Up her Career After Nearly 10 Years

Should ‘Malcolm’ stick to acting or keep racing?

Frankie Muniz’s NASCAR journey has been a mixed bag. In the 2024 Xfinity Series, he started two races, finishing 33rd at Daytona and 30th at Phoenix, both due to mechanical issues. In the 2024 Truck Series, he participated in four races, with finishes ranging from 29th to 34th. However, in the 2025 Truck Series, he has shown improvement, securing a top-10 finish at Daytona and currently ranking 24th in the standings.

On the flip side, Frankie Muniz’s racing career has had its challenges. His average finish in the 2024 Truck Series was 32nd, with no top-10 finishes. In the Xfinity Series, he completed only 59% of the laps in his two starts. These statistics suggest that while he has potential, consistent performance has been elusive.

Despite the hurdles, Muniz’s passion for racing is evident. He has expressed a strong desire to learn and improve, stating, “I know I need a lot to learn.” His commitment to the sport is further demonstrated by his decision to compete full-time in the 2025 Truck Series with Reaume Brothers Racing. But it looks like he is already too passionate to quit racing.

While Frankie Muniz could easily return to the comfort of acting, his resolve to keep racing is clear. He’s not just chasing headlines, he’s chasing respect and results. As long as his passion and work ethic remain, there’s every reason for Muniz to keep racing and prove that his second act can be just as compelling as his first.