Filed under: Motorsports, Celebrities
Frankie Muniz: self-proclaimed best actor-turned-racer ever
IMDb has quoted former Malcom in the Middle star and current Pacific Coast Motorsports driver Frankie Muniz as saying, "I don't want to sound conceited, but I don't think there has been an actor or celebrity-turned-racecar driver that has made it as high up on the racecar circuit as I have. So I don't think there's anyone who can keep up with me. And that's just me being honest." In case folks missed the press release, Muniz turned his focus away from his acting career and devoted his efforts to auto racing after winning the 2005 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Celebrity Race. He joined the Formula BMW series in 2006, finishing a season high of 16th. Last year saw the erstwhile child star running in the Champ Car Atlantic series where he managed to creep into the top 10 at one event. Not much of a stellar track record as racing goes. Conceited may not be the right term, but uninformed might be. It seems that Mr. Muniz needs a lesson in automotive racing history. Over the years there have been quite a few racing actors. Names such as Steve McQueen and Paul Newman immediately leap to mind, both producing notable results at prestigious events. McQueen finished second overall at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1970, and 1979 saw Newman do the same at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. A little humility might be in order for the young actor/racer.
Thanks for the tip, Tom!
[Source: Internet Movie Database]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 9)
rp_guy 8:24AM (2/02/2008)
must be the VW that he bought
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David 8:25AM (2/02/2008)
Frankie is uninformed alright. Being a tot himself, does he even know who Steve McQueen and Paul Newman is?
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BobinCobb 8:37AM (2/02/2008)
Frankie WHO ?
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Kiiks 8:38AM (2/02/2008)
Yeah really I didn't even recognize the name.
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mikomi 8:51AM (2/02/2008)
No offense to Mr. Muniz, but this is the proverbial putting one's foot in one's mouth.
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The Doctor 8:52AM (2/02/2008)
Oh God... It gets even better in the rest of the IMDb snippet: "I want to race Michael Schumacher, seven-time (Formula One) world champion."
I don't think any extra comment is needed.
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Caterham7 8:58AM (2/02/2008)
Around the paddock and tracks, there's a reason he's called "frankie at the back..."
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Radix 9:04AM (2/02/2008)
That's what I was thinking.
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Galley 9:08AM (2/02/2008)
He hasn't even reached Jason Priestly levels, has he?
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HotRodzNKustoms 9:25AM (2/02/2008)
I think I remember when he said this. I think he was just joking.
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f3rg 9:40AM (2/02/2008)
A bit ignorant and stuck on himself, but at least he's not a crack fiend like most of them turn out to be.
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dire 9:56AM (2/02/2008)
someone should dig up the pics of the 2.slow jetta he bought from fast and furious
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Fyrewerx 9:58AM (2/02/2008)
He doesn't even hold a candle to Dickie Smothers (Co-Winner, Sebring 12-hour).
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rcernak 10:04AM (2/02/2008)
Just like every other kid in this country. If it didn't happen after they were born. . . it didn't happen. Typical.
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Shoo 10:22AM (2/02/2008)
C'mon, did you see that photograph? Give the kid a break.
He's gonna need SOMETHING to do while he waits for enough facial hair to grow so he can stage an acting comeback...
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LloydChiro 10:57AM (2/02/2008)
The rest of the commenters here are naive. I don't know who this guy Frankie is, but it's very obvious that he is being sarcastic. In fact, I kind of admire him for his self-depreciating remark given to the press when it's obvious that he doesn't regard his racing accomplishments as such a big deal.
"That's just me being honest" should be a giant red-flag for your sarcasm detectors.
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Red Star 11:17AM (2/02/2008)
Maybe he meant playstation.
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oneighturbo 11:24AM (2/02/2008)
Let's not forget Patrick Dempsey
Dempsey enjoys auto racing in his spare time, having driven the pace car in the Indianapolis 500, and raced in the Rolex 24 at Daytona and Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. He is currently the co-owner of IndyCar Series team Vision Racing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Dempsey
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Chaz 12:13PM (2/02/2008)
Good memory..
It's true, buying anything that had anything to do with any "Fast and the Furious" films, most of all one of the trashy cars, concedes their car guy credentials for at least 60 years.
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Dan 12:27PM (2/02/2008)
I don't really care for the kid... but the remark is funny either way. Probably funnier if he was serious... but funny nonetheless.
And I know there's a lot of FnF bashing in the auto enthusiast scene... but I can think of a couple of cars I'd take from that series of movies (and a few that I wouldn't be caught dead driving).
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