For a racer who is committed, no challenge is daunting. The same can be said about Frankie Muniz, the actor-turned-driver who has been making waves since 2022. Through his young career in NASCAR, the former ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ star has navigated ups and downs. For instance, coping with a lackluster 2025 season in the Truck Series so far after securing 11 top-ten finishes in ARCA during his rookie campaign.

Similarly, Frankie Muniz dealt with a gigantic roadblock just after a promising start to 2025. He was driving the No. 33 Reaume Brothers Racing Ford in the Craftsman Truck Series, but disaster struck at home. Yet he came out of it a wiser and more optimistic driver, as Muniz shared recently.

Frankie Muniz needed a bigger ladder

Well, Frankie Muniz started the 2025 season with a bang. He collected a fascinating 10th-place finish at Daytona International Speedway, marking his first top ten in a NASCAR national series race. Just after that euphoric milestone, however, Muniz slipped back into average finishes. And to make matters worse, his season’s ambitions screeched to a painful halt in August. On 28th August, Muniz was trying to change some ring batteries in his house when he fell off a ladder. Consequently, he broke his left wrist and missed four Craftsman Truck Series races.

In a recent interview with journalist Bob Pockrass, Frankie Muniz expanded on the accident. “I lost my balance,” he said. “I had to heed to the warning that said do not stand on top step, especially when it’s on the grass. But you live and learn. It was my fault…I can’t blame anybody else except for my laziness to not go get a taller ladder out of my garage.” So for a shorter ladder, Muniz had to undergo medical treatment for the following two months. Now, however, doctors have approved his return to NASCAR, as Muniz will compete in the Love’s RV Stop 225 at Talladega Superspeedway.

In his absence, Frankie Muniz’s truck was wheeled by Mason Maggio and Tyler Tomassi. The former actor admitted to feeling left out all this while: “Obviously, since I’ve been in the Truck Series, and kind of painful to have to watch.” Yet Muniz also harbored optimism. “But at the same time, like you know, I had to heal up and excited to be back for the last three and just keep fighting for sure.”

Most of all, Frankie Muniz prioritized learning from all his ups and downs in 2025. Besides his nasty fall, Muniz’s poor finishes also provided solid lessons. “It has been an adventurous year, for sure. We’ve had a fair share of bad luck, but let’s just say I’m hoping just to get all the bad luck out of it this year. And hopefully, next year we’ll have smooth sailing.” 

Frankie Muniz is hardly alone in encountering freak falls this season. The Truck star even compared his situation to that of an Xfinity Series legend.

Two bone-chilling accidents in a month

In early August, Xfinity Series fans were shocked. Connor Zilisch, Trackhouse Racing’s Cup Series recruit for 2026, broke his collarbone. He did so just after winning his season’s 6th victory at Watkins Glen International. And the manner of his accident was quite similar to that of Frankie Muniz. Zilisch slipped and fell while standing on the roof of his No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, while Muniz fell from his ladder later the same month. Zilisch underwent successful surgery and resumed his winning streak. Now, the young stud is aiming for the championship with 10 wins.

As Frankie Muniz resumes his Truck Series competition, he draws a parallel with Connor Zilisch. Upon being asked if his fall was like the 19-year-old phenom’s, Muniz replied, “Pretty much.” He continued, “I think that his probably looked way more dramatic than mine did. I caught myself, but from a high spot. I immediately knew that I had hurt myself.” 

Muniz declared that had he been targeting the championship like Zilisch, he would have sped up the process. Instead, he focused on getting better steadily: “It was so much pain, and it was one of those things, if I was competing for the championship, could I have fought through it? It would have been hard. I thought better to truly heal and then come back and not cause more damage and make it worse.”

As Frankie Muniz returns to NASCAR, he also returns to his pursuit of brilliance in the sport. Let’s wait and see if the former actor can make up for his adventurous year.