Frankie Muniz Says He’s at a ‘New Low’ Mentally and Emotionally amid Race Setbacks

• Frankie Muniz shared that he’s at a “new low” mentally and emotionally in a post on X
• The Malcolm in the Middle alum-turned-NASCAR driver had a challenging race on April 18, where his power steering line burst
• He said he’s “oddly cursed” but was thankful for his team, saying, “They’re sticking with me”

Frankie Muniz is at a “new low” mentally and emotionally, amid setbacks in his recent races.

“If I’m being 100% honest… Mentally/emotionally I may be at a new low. Just wanted to say it out loud,” the former Malcolm in the Middle star — and now NASCAR driver — shared in an April 21 post on X.

While racing in the April 18 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Rockingham Speedway in North Carolina, Muniz, 39, had technical difficulties early on that derailed him.

“My power steering line burst, so I lost power steering,” he said in a post-race interview with Peter Stratta. “I ripped a hole in my hand [turning the wheel].” 

He called trying to steer “the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” and the setback left him essentially out of the race, Muniz explained, saying he’s “oddly cursed or something.”

Since Feb. 14, when he finished 10th at Daytona, Muniz has struggled to finish above 21st place.

“Our goal is always top 20,” he told Stratta. “I’ve had bad luck for almost two years straight.”

Still, he praised his team, saying, “I really love them … They’re sticking with me, and I hope the fans do, too. I hope they don’t turn on me.”

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He continued, “How many times can I say, ‘Wow, I got bad luck,’ “ sharing that his “super supportive” wife, Paige Muniz has said, “‘Maybe it’s you, like, maybe you’re just not good.’ “

“So I hope people see that. I mean, people are going to say what they do, but you know we’re trying really hard.”

“I think at first, maybe people thought [racing] was like a hobby,” Muniz recently told PEOPLE.

“Then to have an actor jump in, it probably is a little odd. I get that,” Muniz shared. “But you earn respect or the recognition as a driver and not just as an actor when you’re out there competing and beating them, right? That’s what I’m trying to do.”