Frankie Muniz, the childhood star of hit series Malcolm in the Middle, has seen his NASCAR career temporarily derailed by injury.
The 39-year-old Reaume Brothers Racing as a full-time driver for the 2025 season of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series earlier this year after making the switch from acting to professional racing in 2006.
But Muniz, who is also known for his role in the Cody Banks movie series, suffered a broken wrist in a fall from a ladder Wednesday.
The injury, which he stated was a distal radius fracture, will force him out of multiple races, including this Saturday’s.
Muniz explained that he had been changing batteries in a ring camera in his backyard in Arizona when he fell from the ladder.
‘While I’m gutted to miss the races, I’m grateful it wasn’t worse,’ Muniz said on social media. ‘I feel for my team, who’ve poured their hearts into this season, and I’m thankful for Ford Performance and their unwavering support. The doctor estimates a 6-8 week recovery, so I’ll be back in the driver’s seat as soon as I’m cleared.’
NASCAR driver Frankie Muniz has been ruled out of racing indefinitely after breaking his wrist
The former child actor is best known for his role in hit series Malcolm in The Middle
This weekend’s race in Darlington – the South Carolina Education Lottery 200 – marks the first of the Truck Series playoffs.
The next three events in the series will be September 11 at Bristol, September 20 at New Hampshire and October 3 at the Charlotte Roval.
Reaume Brothers Racing announced Thursday that Mason Maggio will replace Muniz this weekend at Darlington.
In his first full-time season in the Truck Series, Muniz has one top-10 finish and is 24th in the points.
In 2023, Muniz competed in the ARCA Menards Series, finishing fourth at the end of the season with one top-five finish and 11 top-10s.
Muniz accepted that he is still best known for his Malcolm in the Middle role and hasn’t closed the door on acting again in the future.
Malcolm in the Middle ran for seven seasons from 2000 until 2006 and still today is regarded as a classic sitcom. Muniz played Malcolm, a child genius with an IQ of 165 growing up in a dysfunctional family as one of four brothers.
Malcolm’s dad, Hal, was played by Bryan Cranston, who is best known for his role as Walter White in Breaking Bad.
In 2012, Muniz was hospitalized with what was later diagnosed with a mini stroke. He has spoken previously about struggling with memory loss due to multiple concussions as a teenager.
