Frankie Muniz Chases NASCAR Dreams While Malcolm in the Middle Revival Gears Up for 2025
Frankie Muniz is no stranger to reinvention. From his days as a beloved child star in Malcolm in the Middle to his career as a professional race car driver, Muniz has continually pushed boundaries. With his recent achievements in motorsports and the monumental announcement of a Malcolm in the Middle revival set for 2025, it seems like he’s living the dream. Yet, one ambition from his childhood remains unfulfilled: a NASCAR dream tied to a specific car and an iconic sponsor—Slim Jim.
Frankie Muniz and His Slim Jim Obsession
Despite the whirlwind of exciting developments, Muniz’s latest tweet revealed an enduring goal: “Man, all this big news and still no response from @SlimJim. Haha,” he wrote, alluding to a deeply personal connection with the Slim Jim-sponsored #44 car from NASCAR’s mid-1990s Busch Grand National Series. For an eight-year-old Muniz, this car—driven by David Green for Bobby Labonte Racing—represented everything he admired in racing.
The Slim Jim Chevrolet, with its bold red-and-yellow livery, wasn’t just a car; it was a powerhouse, helping Green clinch the 1994 championship with nine top-five finishes. Muniz reminisced about his love for the car on a recent episode of The Dale Jr. Download, saying, “Nothing against [Jeff Gordon], but I was a huge David Green fan. He drove the Slim Jim car back then, and as a kid, I was like, ‘Oh, man! I love Slim Jims!’”
Muniz’s admiration for the Slim Jim car was so strong that it even overshadowed his respect for Jeff Gordon, the racing legend who inspired his transition from acting to motorsports. Now, years later, Muniz hopes to bring the Slim Jim livery back to life—this time, with himself behind the wheel.
The Quest for a Slim Jim Comeback
Muniz’s dream isn’t just nostalgic; it’s an active pursuit. A recent tweet revealed his ambition to race a Slim Jim-sponsored truck in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for 2025. “I really want to race a @SlimJim truck next season. It would be a full circle moment of the car I used to root for when I was 8,” he wrote.
However, reviving Slim Jim’s presence in NASCAR hasn’t been easy. The brand exited the sport in the late 1990s, with a brief return in 2022 as a one-off sponsor for Ricky Stenhouse Jr.. Since then, Slim Jim has remained quiet, leaving Muniz waiting despite his ongoing success as a driver. This past year, he placed an impressive fourth in the 2023 ARCA Menards Series championship standings, proving his mettle on the track.
A Hollywood Comeback: Malcolm in the Middle Revival
While his NASCAR aspirations remain unresolved, Muniz is gearing up for a major television comeback. Disney+ recently announced the revival of Malcolm in the Middle, reuniting Muniz with original cast members like Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek. Scheduled for release in 2025, the revival will feature four new episodes under the direction of original creator Linwood Boomer.
Announcing the news on Twitter, Muniz wrote, “OH MY GOSH! I’m so excited to announce that after 18 years, Malcolm in the Middle is returning with new episodes on @disneyplus! Get ready, we can’t wait for everyone to see what Malcolm and his family have been up to!”
According to Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television, the revival aims to recapture the magic of the original series. “Its hilarious and heartfelt portrayal of a lovably chaotic family resonated with audiences of all ages. We’re so excited to welcome the original cast back to bring that magic to life again,” Davis said.
The revival’s storyline will follow Malcolm (Muniz) as he and his daughter are drawn back into family chaos for Hal (Cranston) and Lois’s (Kaczmarek) 40th wedding anniversary party. Fans are already buzzing with excitement to see how the beloved characters have evolved since the show ended in 2006.
A Year of Big Dreams
For Muniz, 2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year. Whether it’s stepping back into the shoes of Malcolm or chasing the NASCAR dream he’s harbored since childhood, he’s proving it’s never too late to pursue your passions. While the Slim Jim truck remains an unfulfilled ambition, Muniz is far from giving up.
As he balances Hollywood nostalgia with high-speed pursuits, one thing is clear: Frankie Muniz isn’t slowing down. The question now is whether Slim Jim will seize the opportunity to join him on the journey.
What’s next for Frankie Muniz? Stay tuned as he gears up for a pivotal year both on screen and on the track.
