Frankie Muniz Is Still Trying to 'Earn Respect' as a NASCAR Driver. But He Wants to 'Beat Everybody' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Frankie Muniz (#30 Hairclub-Ford Performance Ford) enjoys a laugh during practice for the ARCA Series BRANDT 200 supporting Florida FFA on February 16, 2023.Photo:Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty

Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty

Frankie Munizwants to be the fastest.

“Then to have an actor jump in, it probably is a little odd. I get that,” Muniz admits. “But you earn respect or the recognition as a driver and not just as an actor when you’re out there competing and beating them, right? That’s what I’m trying to do. That is the name of the game, right? Is to try to be the fastest. I want to beat everybody.”

Frankie Muniz, driver of the #22 More Core Ford, looks on during practice for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Baptist Health 200.James Gilbert/Getty

James Gilbert/Getty

“I’m working really hard for it. You know what I mean? Not for their attention, but for me to have success in that world as a race car driver.”

To debut his new truck with Morgan & Morgan, Muniz filmed a handful of commercials with the law firm partners. “Obviously, I think people know me mostly as an actor, but one thing I love is that really everywhere I go now people come up to me and talk to me about my racing, and the fact that I can tie the two together with something like this is even better.”

Muniz jokes that while he knows he’s “got work to do as a race car driver,” he’s seen “a lot of the NASCAR drivers' commercials…and they’re not very good in the acting department.”

In an exclusive statement to PEOPLE, Dan Morgan says his firm was “excited” to have Muniz partner with them. “Frankie stood out to us as an ideal partner not only because of his widespread recognition but also because of his strong commitment to family, community, and values that closely align with those of Morgan & Morgan.”

TheAgent Cody Banksstar, who sharesson Mauzwith wifePaige Price, rarely has time to slow down. “I’ve always been busy since I was probably 8 years old. But I’ve never been as busy as I am now,” he tells PEOPLE, noting that he’s balancing racing with fatherhood, a three-year build on his house in Arizona that he calls “a nightmare” and working on the reboot of his iconic seriesMalcolm in the Middle.

Frankie Muniz, driver of the #27 More Core Diamond Drilling Ford, waves to fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway on November 08, 2024 in Avondale, Arizona.Sean Gardner/Getty

Sean Gardner/Getty

“I did 550,000 airline miles last year. I’m going to beat that this year a hundred percent,” says Muniz. “It’s a lot, I’m not going to lie, I’m tired, but I know that I have opportunity in front of me right now and I need to take advantage of it, right?”

Muniz says he’s currently focused on “putting in the work and the time” to be successful in racing. “I don’t want to look back at the end of the year, the end of the season, or even after we’re done filmingMalcolm, and go, ‘I wish I tried harder.'”

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“I don’t want to phone anything in. I know it’s going to be an insane year, but I know eventually … I’ve been saying for 20 years that I was going to start slowing down, but I know eventually I won’t have it, and I don’t know what I’ll do at that point.”

source: people.com