One of the most popular and well-known figures at the Pocono Raceway could be found in a place few would expect – the fourth-tier ARCA Menards Series, which served as the opening race for the weekend’s action.
Frankie Muniz; From the Screen to the Track
Among the young prospective racers and the old veterans has been Frankie Muniz, the 37-year-old driver of Rette Jones Racing’s No. 30 Ford.
If that name sounds familiar, you may remember him as an actor from hit TV shows and movies such as “Malcolm in the Middle” and “Agent Cody Banks.”
But Muniz, a longtime racing aficionado who participated in celebrity races at the height of his acting career, is now a regular in the ARCA series. The previous experience he has had in the public eye has helped the off-track acclimation to the racer’s life
“I’m used to getting interviewed,” Muniz, said in contrast to some of his competitors in a post-race interview on July 22. “A lot of these kids coming up, their first time may have been last week,” he joked.
But don’t count Muniz out on track, though. He and his team have been competitive, entering the Pocono race weekend second in the points standings. Having honed his craft on ovals throughout this season, taking on the challenge of racing stock cars regularly for the first time, Muniz was hopeful for his first career top-five finish in Saturday morning’s rain-delayed race. Unfortunately, the track known as the Tricky Triangle was just that for Muniz and his team.
The Tricky Triangle Proves True
Jul 23, 2023; Long Pond, Pa.; NASCAR ARCA Menards Series driver Frankie Muniz’s No. 30 car gets looked at behind pit wall after after a battery issue during the Sunset Shooting Range 150 at Pocono Raceway. (Seth Woolcock/In-Between Media)
At the start of the race, Muniz’s No. 30 made hard contact with another car as he was bumped from behind. That disconnected engine wiring that affected the battery and voltage, which meant a 13-lap repair on pit road.
The mechanical issue was worse than being involved in a crash, according to the driver.
“I didn’t even do anything,” he said. “And it cost the team what could have been a great day. I easily could’ve been in the top five today. I think that makes it worse that I didn’t get the opportunity to try.”
But it’s a long season, and Muniz’s perseverance in the racing world is stronger than ever.
“This is a tricky place, and obviously, I’m gonna be here next year, [so you] learn as much as you can, but I was only running around 75 or 80 percent,” Muniz said. “I knew there was nothing to gain by pushing the limit.” And he didn’t want to make a bad day worse by crashing the car when it was clearly out of contention for a victory or a strong finish.
In the Middle of It
Jul 23, 2023; Long Pond, Pa.; NASCAR ARCA Menards Series driver Frankie Muniz sits with an open visor as No. 30 car gets looked at behind pit during the Sunset Shooting Range 150 at Pocono Raceway. (Seth Woolcock/In-Between Media)
With the next race at Michigan on Aug. 6 following an off week, Muniz remains optimistic about the remainder of the year:
“We’re only halfway through the season; so much can happen. I could win the next 10 (races)!”
Regardless, both his past and present careers have him ready for whatever comes next.
“When it’s time to perform, you’ve got to perform. The emotions in (racing) are way larger-scale,” Muniz said. “I’m pissed right now – not many days I ended as an actor pissed.”
Regardless of a rough day at the track, it’s clear that Muniz plans to be in the middle of the stock car racing scene for years to come.
Thanks for reading my rundown of ARCA’s Frankie Muniz post-Pocono Raceway. Check out more of our racing content and other written work here at In-Between Media. Or head over to our YouTube channel to get your fix via video.
And for more NASCAR content, you can find me on Twitter @EHicks39.
