Frankie Muniz to race ARCA full-time in 2023

Spotters will yell “Malcolm in the Middle” when they see Rette Jones Racing’s car in the middle three-wide in 2023, as Frankie Muniz will run their No. 30 Ford full-time in the ARCA Menards Series.

Muniz was named Wednesday to the No. 30 Rette Jones Racing Ford. He will replace Amber Balcaen, who earned six top-10 finishes during her full-time, 20-race tenure in 2022.

While Muniz brings plenty of star power to the No. 30 Ford, he also brings a plethora of racing experience. In 2006, he raced in the Formula BMW USA series before racing three seasons in the Champ Car Atlantic Series.

In October 2021, Muniz made his stock car racing debut during an SRL Pro Late Model race at Kern County Raceway Park.

The actor-turned-racer was 3rd of 25 entrants in practice, then started 13th and finished 17th.

Last January, Muniz tested an ARCA car at Daytona with Andy Hillenburg’s Fast Track Racing.

Muniz also drove the pace car for the 2001 Daytona 500, held on Feb. 18 that year. He witnessed the fatal crash that killed Dale Earnhardt, which the actor said greatly affected him as a fan.

22 years, to the date, after that fateful day, Muniz will again take to the high banks of Daytona for his ARCA Menards Series debut. The green flag is expected just after 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1.