Throwback: Jeff Gordon’s TV Cameo Kicks Off Frankie Muniz’s NASCAR Dream

The transition from a NASCAR personality to making it into a TV series might not be an unheard of occurrence; however, the vice versa turns some heads. When Frankie Muniz decided to become a NASCAR driver, many did not take him seriously. The star decided on racing as a full-time driver and has now been racing in the Craftsman Truck Series. But this begs the question: Where did his love for NASCAR come from? The answer is Jeff Gordon.

For Frankie Muniz, things fell into place when it came to finding his love for NASCAR. Earlier in his acting career, he once met a NASCAR legend who changed his views on the sport. Being one of the lucky children to work with a NASCAR legend on a set transitioned to him defining his career beyond being a child actor. So what was this defining moment in Frankie Muniz’s life that we now see him on the tracks? fighting for the title? Let’s dive in.

Frankie Muniz met his idol Jeff Gordon early in his acting career

Today Frankie Muniz is no longer a child star. The 38-year-old is starting to be taken seriously in the Truck Series. Although Muniz has yet to participate in the Truck Series as a full-time driver, his records from ARCA show that he means business. The New Jersey native finished 4th in the ARCA Menards series in 2023. That’s when he knew that it was time to get into the big leagues.

Recently, a video surfaced on X where they show a young Frankie Muniz on the set of Spin City as a cameo from Jeff Gordon stole the show. In a 1998 episode of Spin City, a young Muniz shared the screen with NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon. Playing a sick child in the hospital, Muniz found himself on the receiving end of Gordon’s on-screen promise to “win races” for him. What began as a fun guest appearance became a formative moment.

Although Muniz was in his character as Derek, his emotions were real. Standing in front of him was one of the biggest NASCAR stars at the time. Jeff Gordon was fresh off from his third Cup Series win. At the time, he was one of the most popular athletes not just in America, but all over the world. Watching Jeff Gordon join him on set was enough for Muniz to switch career lanes. In 2004, he made the switch to racing, trying his hand at open-wheel racing as well as stock-car racing.

In later interviews, Muniz admitted that this brief interaction with the four-time Cup Series champion left an indelible mark. “I became a big Jeff Gordon fan just because he was always nice to me,” Muniz recalled. Years later, that fandom transformed into reality as Muniz pursued his racing career, a journey that now sees him competing in ARCA and NASCAR’s Xfinity and Truck Series.

While he races in the Cup Series, Muniz’s aim is eventually driving in the Cup Series. However, the biggest difficulty for him might just be his age. Unlike most young drivers, he doesn’t have a long time to prove his mettle in the lower series and then gradually rise to the Cup Series. There is a sense of urgency, as Muniz once admitted.  Although Muniz has made it into the Truck Series, it has not been an easy ride for him. NASCAR is a dangerous sport, and that’s a reality that Muniz accepted when he decided to get behind the wheel. Now that he has had a taste of the action, the 2024 season showed him exactly how difficult it is to be a NASCAR driver.

Frankie Muniz’s multi-truck hit leaves him limping

Frankie Muniz had a rough ride at Phoenix Raceway, but he’s already shrugging it off like a true racer. The former Malcolm in the Middle star, now living his NASCAR dreams, was part of a wild multi-truck crash during the Craftsman Truck Series Championship on Friday. After getting hit from behind, his No. 27 Ford F-150 ended up in a pileup, leaving him limping his way to an ambulance.

Footage shared on social media showed Muniz bent over in pain but staying composed as he got some help off the track. “It was a hard hit,” he later admitted, but added that he was “OK.” He broke down the crash in typical racer fashion: “I got hit from behind, got shoved into the 42, and then slammed into the 18. Nothing I could’ve done—just bad luck.”

But Frankie wasn’t wallowing. He was already thinking about what’s next. “I made some good passes, lost a few spots on restarts, but got them back,” he said. “This year wasn’t what we hoped for, but it proved I can run with these guys. I’ve got the whole offseason to get ready, and next year, we’re coming back stronger.”

For Frankie, racing isn’t just a hobby—it’s the adrenaline rush he’s been chasing for years. “The feeling of crossing the finish line first… it’s like nothing else,” he said. So, while limping off the track wasn’t part of the plan, it’s just another bump in the road for a guy who’s determined to make a name for himself in the racing world. Buckle up—he’s not slowing down anytime soon.

What do you think of Frankie Muniz’s career in NASCAR? Share your thoughts in the comments below.