Frankie Muniz revved up to showcase racing abilities in ARCA debut: 'I hope to surprise people'

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

Frankie Muniz is a race car driver.

Long gone are the days of his appearances in "Malcolm in the Middle" or on the big screen as the protagonist in "Big Fat Liar" or "Agent Cody Banks." 

This week, Muniz puts on the fire suit, helmet and gloves. He takes down the netting of his stock car and switches on the engine.

It’ll be time to go racing.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Frankie Muniz speaks to the media during the NASCAR Cup Series 65th Annual Daytona 500 Media Day at Daytona International Speedway Feb. 15, 2023, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Muniz will be one of the 40 drivers who start their engines Saturday in the first ARCA Menards race of the season — the Daytona 200. The drivers will go around the 2.5-mile paved oval 80 times to determine who will be riding into Victory Lane. It’s Muniz’s first time racing in an ARCA stock car. He joined Rette Jones Racing in January and will drive the No. 30 Ford Mustang. He participated in a test last year.

"I thought about this moment, like how I would feel, a lot. The fact that I’m actually here — I’m in Daytona — I don’t know. It’s almost hard to believe still," Muniz told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. "Until I’m at the racetrack and climbing into the car, I feel like it’s still like a dream of mine. And then it obviously becomes reality when I get to do it."

NASCAR STAR KYLE BUSCH ADDRESSES MEXICO DETAINMENT FOR BRINGING HANDGUN INTO COUNTRY

Muniz starts practice Thursday afternoon and was feeling anxious after being one of the quicker cars during testing in January. He said he was feeling confident after the testing and,