Frankie Muniz, the beloved star of “Malcolm in the Middle” who is now a NASCAR driver, was in a dramatic crash during Friday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. His TV-themed No. 33 truck was involved in a pileup with several other trucks. The 40-year-old actor, who is best known for his breakout role as Malcolm Wilkerson, wasn’t seriously hurt in the crash but was shaken up and promised to come back stronger.
Muniz’s truck, which had the logo and colors of the hit show “Malcolm in the Middle,” crashed into Tyler Reif and Timmy Hill’s trucks at high speed in Bristol. As safety crews rushed to the scene, TV footage showed Muniz’s truck crashing into the wall head-on. The crash cut his time in Bristol short, and fans were left wondering if the actor-turned-racer would come back to the track in top shape. Later, Muniz said he was “OK” and praised NASCAR’s safety rules for keeping long-term damage to a minimum.
This isn’t the first time Muniz has been in danger on the track. He got hurt badly at Phoenix Raceway during the Craftsman Truck Series Championship in 2024 and had to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance after a multi-truck crash. He also lived through a scary crash in 2009 that broke his back and ribs and left him with many other broken bones. The most recent crash shows how dangerous Muniz is willing to be in his racing career after acting. For now, he’s focused on getting better and getting back behind the wheel as soon as possible. He wants to keep his legacy as a fearless NASCAR contender and a sitcom star alive.
