Frankie Muniz “at a new low” mentally after difficult Rockingham race

Frankie Muniz’s NASCAR journey has been far from easy, but the 39-year-old has remained committed to his goal of becoming a successful race car driver.

This year, he is competing full-time in the NASCAR Truck Series with Reaume Brothers Racing, driving the No. 33 Ford F-150. The year started on a positive note with an impressive top-ten finish at Daytona, but unfortunately, it’s been mostly downhill from there.

Muniz only finished 23rd at Rockingham, over 20 laps behind the race leaders, but it was still his best finish since Daytona. Being the first NASCAR Truck race at Rockingham since 2013, it was going to be a true challenge for the drivers. Unfortunately for Muniz, it was even more difficult for him as he completely lost power steering early at a track known to be physically taxing. But thanks to the high attrition and ten trucks failing to reach the checkered flag, he was able to claw his way to 23rd in the final order.

On Monday following the race weekend, Muniz posted on X (formerly Twitter): “If I’m being 100% honest… Mentally/emotionally I may be at a new low. Just wanted to say it out loud.”

Muniz has also had to balance his racing schedule with the filming a four-part Malcolm in the Middle revival, which is set to release on Disney+ at some point.

In the six races since Daytona, Muniz has also suffered three DNFs. One of those came at Atlanta when Muniz got wrecked while battling for another top ten result. Another came at Bristol when he was involved in a multi-truck incident early at Bristol. He currently sits 24th in the championship standings, beating just one other full-time driver [Nathan Byrd]. 

The aforementioned incident at Bristol also collected Ty Majeski, Stewart Friesen, and Brandon Jones. At the time of the crash, they were running third, fourth and fifth, respectively. Muniz was in the process of being lapped and Jones later places blame on the rookie driver, saying: “It kind of looked like Frankie [Muniz] was undecided where he was going to go. You have to commit man. [Ty] Majeski just had to commit to a lane, and it looked like Frankie did really prepare for it and turned across his nose.”

Muniz’s next opportunity behind the wheel of a NASCAR Truck will come at Texas Motor Speedway on May 2nd. That event begins a run of six consecutive Truck races without an off-weekend, which is the longest stretch of the series’ 2025 schedule.