BROOKLYN, MI – The “Malcolm in the Middle” actor finished right in the middle of the pack at the NASCAR race on Friday, August 16, at Michigan International Speedway.

The Hollywood star turned racing driver finished 12th out of 24 in the Henry Ford Health 200 ARCA Series race. 18-year-old Connor Zilisch won the race.

An early engine problem ruined Muniz’s day, as a spark plug problem cost the No. 33 Ford horsepower. His team repaired the engine during the first caution period, but he was already a lap down.

“It’s tough to be out there and get eaten,” Muniz said. “We had to wait until the next warning (to fix the problem).”

After the repair, Muniz was able to finish from 15th place and still manage to finish in 12th place.

“After we changed it, we drove good laps,” Muniz said.

Friday was Muniz’s first race back in the cockpit after an illness. A parasite made him sick for nearly a month this summer, but Muniz said he is feeling better now.

Last year, Muniz achieved his career-best finish at MIS, finishing fifth. It’s been an uphill battle since then, but Muniz is optimistic.

“I had really bad luck in racing last year. That has to change at some point,” said Muniz.

Muniz was a fan favorite on Friday, drawing cheers during his pre-race interview. A few fans yelled “Hey Frankie” from above as he got out of his car, and a handful of fans lined up for photos and autographs. NASCAR President Steve Phelps also stopped by to shake his hand and chat.

Muniz made his Truck Series and Xfinity Series debut earlier this year, but never finished higher than 30th. He finished fourth in the 2023 ARCA Series standings.

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