‘Malcolm in the Middle’ star will be leading man in ARCA race at Kansas Speedway

Hollywood is coming to the ARCA Racing Dawn 150 at Kansas Speedway this week.

Frankie Muniz, best known for playing the title role in the hit television series “Malcolm in the Middle,” is in his first season racing in the ARCA series. And he enters Saturday’s race as the series leader in points after three races.

Muniz, 37, has competed in other racing series, including Formula BMW USA and ChampCar Atlantic. He also drove the pace car in the 2001 Daytona 500. Muniz, driving the No 30 Ford for Rette Jones Racing, has posted consecutive top 10 finishes, including a sixth-place finish at Phoenix, his hometown track, plus an 11th at Daytona.

“Ever since childhood, it’s been my dream to pursue racing in NASCAR,” Muniz said at the start of the season. “I look forward to not only demonstrating my ability on the track and just how serious how I am in progressing in my racing career, but also showing my son and family what it is to chase your dreams and re-invent yourself.”

Rookie ARCA driver Mandy Chick of DeSoto has been impressed with Muniz as a person, driver and father.

“I never watched his show growing up, maybe because I was always at the race shop or traveling,” said Chick, “but he’s a great guy. I had the pleasure of meeting him at our season opener at Daytona, and he was so down to earth and kind.

“I’m really glad to see that someone like him is able to come into our series very welcomed and have success. I’ve just got to say, his son (2-year-old Mauz) is so adorable. I saw him at Talladega carrying his little cloth … and it’s cool because racing really is a family sport. And it’s cool to see young generations like his little son grow up at the race track and enjoy racing.”

Three other ARCA drivers to watch on Saturday are:

• Jesse Love, No. 20 Toyota. Love, 18, is the two-time ARCA Menards Series West champion from Menlo Park, California, and is coming off his first win of the season at Talladega.

• Greg Van Alst, No. 35 Chevrolet. Alst, a four-year ARCA veteran from Anderson, Indiana, won the season-opening race at Daytona. He has two seventh-place finishes in four starts at Kansas.

• Sean Corr, No. 8 Chevrolet. Carr, 39 of Goshen, New York, has two top-five finishes in two starts.