Frankie Muniz has thrilled fans after making a drastic career change ahead of the upcoming Malcolm in the Middle reboot.
The 39-year-old landed his first film part To Dance with Olivia in 1997, before nabbing the starring role in the beloved sitcom in 2000.
While he racked up a string of stints in recent years, including in the Rookie, New Amsterdam, Awkwafina is Nora from Queens and the Black String, the actor switched things up and made his NASCAR debut in 2021.
On Friday, he enjoyed his first race of the full-time season and was delighted to finish in 11th place.
Following his efforts in the front seat, Frankie took to Instagram after he was bumped up a spot to 10th place – after another racer being disqualified – and proudly celebrated his time on the track.
‘10th Place finish last night at Daytona in the first race of my full-time NASCAR season! I was screaming! The @netflix The Electric State car was looking sharp,’ he wrote.
‘Not the ‘90s you remember? Me either. Set in a retro-future 1994, THE ELECTRIC STATE stars Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt, only on Netflix March 14. #TheElectricState @netflix. Can’t wait to watch the movie!’
Fans were living for the post, and flocked to the comments below to heap praise on Frankie’s career change.
Just.bail wrote: ‘What an amazing start to your first season!! So hyped!’
Colerielnh agreed: ‘Great job sticking in it! Here’s to a great season to come!’
‘Very proud of you buddy! It’s just the beginning,’ Nasco_advisors penned.
‘What a great start to the season Frankie,’ Waynelambert1313 posted. ‘Was awesome to see you climb up to 10th for the finish man. How awesome man. Congratulations Frankie. Great racing.’
While 71baywindow added: ‘Congratulations bro now start Malcom in the middle.’
Frankie also raved about his day on the track in a chat with Fox Sports, sharing: ‘We finished 11th, I couldn’t ask for anything better.
‘I think this truck was so fast. We were in second pack, I passed all the second pack, had a half a straightaway to the front pack, and by myself, caught them.
‘I can’t wait for Talladega, because this truck is good!’
Ahead of the upcoming tournament, held in Alabama at the end of April, he added: ‘I know I have to prove myself here. Last year, I didn’t have the opportunity to do that.
‘Not that this fully does that – this is great, this is a step – hopefully I earn respect.’
‘I still don’t think they know what I can do or not,’ he added of his teammates. ‘So I want to earn their respect too, and the only way to do that is to do it on the track.
‘Man, it worked out, I’m happy. This was great. This was awesome.’
Frankie will be splitting his time between the front seat and the TV set, after it was confirmed that Malcolm in the Middle will be returning.
The family sitcom ran for seven seasons from 2000 until 2006, and followed a dysfunctional working class family in the US.
Erik Per Sullivan, Christopher Masteron and Tania Raymonde made up the cast alongside Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek, with the latter two returning for the revival.
According to reports, Disney + ordered a four-part reboot – but it is not clear when the episodes will be released, or what they will focus on.
The logline reads: ‘Malcolm (Muniz) and his daughter are drawn into the family’s chaos when Hal (Cranston) and Lois (Kaczmarek) demand his presence for their 40th wedding anniversary party.’
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