FRANKIE MUNIZ NOW A RACE CAR DRIVER

Former "Malcolm in the Middle" star Frankie Muniz has turned his back on acting to concentrate on a career as a professional Champ Car driver. The speed-loving star is starting from the back of the grid at the upcoming Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in California, where he'll compete for a win in the Champ Car Atlantic Series. Race spokeswoman Sherry Perez says, "He's had such success as an actor at such a young age and now it's almost like he's starting over again ... as a race car driver." Muniz, 21, is sporting a new Mohawk haircut as he attempts to be taken seriously as a member of the Jensen MotorSport team. Muniz raced for Jensen MotorSport in the 2006 Formula BMW USA series. The Long Beach Grand Prix has happy memories for Muniz -- he won the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race at the three-day event in 2005.

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