Muniz ‘Hoping To Earn Respect’ After Atlanta Disappointment

Frankie Muniz
(HHP/Jacy Norgaard photo)

HAMPTON, Ga. – Frankie Muniz’s bid for back-to-back top 10s to start his rookie NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season fell just short Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Muniz ran 10th last weekend at Daytona (Fla.) Int’l Speedway to kick off the season and looked to carry the momentum forward into Saturday’s Fr8 Auctions 208 at Atlanta’s 1.54-mile quad-oval.

After qualifying 21st on Friday, Muniz slowly worked his way toward the top 10, getting up to 11th midway through the third stage.

With less than 30 laps left in the race, Daniel Hemric’s No. 19 NAPA Auto Parts Chevy Silverado slid up the track exiting turn two and pushed Muniz up into Hemric’s McAnally-Hilgemann Racing teammate, Connor Mosack.

Muniz and Mosack both hit the wall but kept it going straight, however, the damage had already been done. Heading down the frontstretch on lap 106, Muniz’s right rear tire began to shred, ultimately blowing out and causing the No. 33 Reaume Brothers Racing machine to spin to the bottom of turn one.

The damage put Muniz out of the race and left him with a frustrating 26th-place finish.

“I thought we were running really good,” Muniz said after being checked and released from the infield care center. “I definitely don’t get respect out there … 100 percent.

“Nobody goes with me … I think someone put me three-wide and pushed me up into the [truck] that was on my outside.”

The disappointment was felt especially in regard to the solid run Muniz was putting together.

“I think we were close to the top 10, which is a great showing for our team,” he noted. “I don’t think anyone expects us to run there … the fact that we were there on merit; no lucky breaks, we just raced our way up there … shows my team is working so hard, and yet no one gives us a chance.”

Muniz’s frustration was furthered due to NASCAR’s damaged vehicle policy. When his truck came to rest on the apron between turns one and two, he couldn’t get it fired.

As such, NASCAR hooked the vehicle up to a tow truck and brought it to the garage, which ended the day for Muniz and company.

“I don’t know what the rule is with NASCAR,” Muniz said. “The only reason I needed a push is because the starter went bad during the red flag … [and] if I didn’t stall, I would have made it back to the pit lane and fixed it and kept going.

“I don’t know what the rule is; nobody knew what the rule was. They just told me ‘you’re done’ ... and nobody was giving any answers. But once they bring it back to the garage, they just say ‘you’re done.’”

“I’m hoping to earn respect out there. That’s all I want.”

Muniz will look to bounce back at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway on Friday, March 14. Coverage of the Ecosave 200 starts at 9 p.m. ET on FS1, the NASCAR Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.