Frankie Muniz’s Nascar Xfinity debut labeled ‘disappointing’ after big crash in Daytona – but it’s ‘only the beginning’
FRANKIE Muniz’s Nascar Xfinity Series debut has been labeled disappointing after it ended in a big crash.
The Malcolm In The Middle and Agent Cody Banks star, 38, made his series debut at Daytona on Monday in the heavily delayed United Rentals 300.
Unfortunately for Muniz, who qualified 42nd and ran as high as 13th during the race, a crash on lap 37 ended his evening.
Running toward the back of the pack, Muniz was an innocent bystander caught up in a mass crash including Jesse Love, A.J. Allmendinger, Austin Hill, and others.
Shortly afterward, Muniz’s No. 35 Joey Gase Racing Ford was pictured in the pit lane having suffered damage to the front right.
USA Today’s Austin Koneski wrote, “Frankie Muniz is done for the night.
“A disappointing NASCAR Xfinity Series debut for Muniz.”
Later, Nascar tweeted that Muniz had been released from the care center after being checked over.
This marked the end of what will have likely been an emotional day for Muniz.
“I began my venture into stock car racing a year-and-half ago because I wanted to show my son to always follow his dreams,” he wrote on Instagram a few hours before the race.
“I brought him on stage with me during the driver lineup announcements because I wouldn’t be making the biggest start of my career in my first NASCAR race if it wasn’t for the motivation he gives me.
“This is still only the beginning.”
Muniz spent last season racing in the ARCA Series with Rette Jones Racing.
There, he finished within the top 10 on 11 occasions, including a high of fifth at the Henry Ford Health 200.
Muniz’s plans for 2024 had remained secret until February 9, when he announced he would be making his Xfinity debut at Daytona.
“It was a really interesting offseason,” he recently told The Associated Press.
“Everything was done a long time ago and then it wasn’t and then it was and then it wasn’t, and then something else was done and it wasn’t.
“All things out of our control.”
Ahead of this next step, Muniz remained seemingly level-headed in his expectations for Daytona.
“Obviously I’m competitive and you want to go,” he admitted.
“But at the same time, I need to learn.”
Later, Muniz said he was excited to prove that he could race in the series.
“I know it is not going to be easy,” he said.
“ARCA is a great series. There’s some really good cars, some really good competition.
“This is a whole different level.”
Fans had shared their support for Muniz during the race before he crashed out.
“GO FRANKIE GOOOOOOOOO!!!! Rooting for ya bud!” one person wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“Kinda can’t believe Frankie Muniz is a Nascar driver now,” someone else said.
Others were sad for Muniz that his race got cut short.
“I was really rooting for @frankiemuniz. Tough break,” a fan wrote.
“I only started watching racing last season because of Frankie,” another viewer said with a crying emoji.
“[The crash] was fairly early on in the race so just a really sucky way to start the season.”
Muniz is expected to hit the racetrack again on February 19.
“We’ll be doing a lot of racing this year,” he told FrontStretch after the crash in Daytona.
“Next on the schedule is Phoenix.”
