Frankie Muniz was late. Or so he thought.
The 38-year-old actor turned race car driver was wandering around the infield at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, unsure of where to go. He was at a loss and essentially felt like:malcolm in the middleNowhere.
He asked for help and immediately pointed me in the right direction. But a minute later he came back. The Scottsdale, Ariz., resident had actually arrived at his meeting for his series of Xfinity drivers two hours early because he forgot he was on Eastern time.
It was the latest disruption for Muniz, who had to wait until last week to announce his 2024 racing plans.
Muniz, who competed in the entry-level ARCA Series last year, will aim to make his Xfinity Series debut at Daytona in the No. 35 Ford for Joey Gase Racing.
“It’s been a really interesting offseason,” Muniz told The Associated Press on Friday. “Everything was done a long time ago, then it wasn’t done, then it was done, then it wasn’t done, then something else was done, then it wasn’t done. Everything is outside of our control. is.”
Muniz insisted the delay had nothing to do with Ford or the financing, saying, “A lot of things just have to come together to make it work.”
But he made it clear that the situation was far from ideal.
“I thought I was going to be spending a lot of time with the team (on the simulator) and in the shop,” he said. “Instead, I met my friends today. I met a lot of people today.”
Muniz will need to qualify for Saturday’s race, which could be a difficult task considering six of the 44 participants will return home.
Therefore, competing in the race is the biggest goal. And that’s just the beginning of the learning curve for Muniz as he takes the next step in his racing career.
Despite having driven competitively for decades, Muniz has yet to make a live pit stop since ARCA relaxed rules that make it easier for teams to add fuel, change tires and make adjustments to their vehicles. Not yet.
“Obviously I’m competitive and you want to go, too,” he said. “But at the same time, you need to learn.”
Muniz learned a lot last year. He topped the ARCA series points standings at times, finishing fourth despite suffering a number of mechanical problems late in the 20-race season. He also gained the trust and respect of his colleagues.
He became a fixture in the NASCAR garage, and other teams were eager to offer advice and assistance. As he climbs the NASCAR ladder, he’s not sure if he actually will.
“The only thing you can compare it to is something like going to a new school,” he said. “At one school I feel like I’m the star, but when I go to a new school I feel like I don’t know anyone. People won’t welcome me here. Or?
“I have a little bit of that feeling too. Walking in the garage, I still don’t know if people will accept me there.”
If he wanders around the garage long enough, he’ll probably come across a familiar face. Muniz shared the acting stage with NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Jeff Gordon in 1998.
Muniz played a young man in the hospital who needs a kidney transplant on the comedy show “Spin City.” Gordon and NBA player Jason Williams went toe-to-toe about what they would do to support the child.
Muniz won the lead role in the popular TV series “Malcolm in the Middle” and starred in the movie “Agent Cody Banks.”
He hasn’t forgotten his acting roots either. Muniz used a Hollywood mugshot with one hand on his chin for his NASCAR credential photo. He certainly stands out.
And he wants to do the same on the track.
“I’m excited to prove to people that I can race in this series,” he said. “We know it’s not easy. ARCA is a great series. There’s some really good cars, some really good competition. This is a whole different level.
“Everyone there is a good person. I don’t want to call it self-doubt. It has nothing to do with that. As soon as I get going, I need to prove it to myself. I hope I can do it.”
