Dennis Quaid will portray the lead role in the character-driven sports drama Thunder Road. The story will revolve around a dynasty deeply rooted in stock car racing. Now, actor Frankie Muniz, who is also a NASCAR driver, has also put his hat in the ring for the project.
Muniz highlights NASCAR background as he eyes role in upcoming Dennis Quaid project
AMC’s next project is set in the world of NASCAR, and Dennis Quaid will play the leading role in it. Quaid will portray the role of Duane Whitlock, a NASCAR legend who turned backroad grit and dirt-track roots into a racing empire and refuses to watch it fade.
“A multi-generational saga of the Whitlock family, whose legacy in stock car racing is as deep as the family’s ties to the southern hill country roots that shaped them,” the official logline of the show reads.
The Malcolm in the Middle star also wants a piece of the action, as he took to X to lobby for the role. The theme of the show aligns with the skill set he possesses.
“I wonder if they need a NASCAR driver that has a small acting background,” he cheekily stated on X.
Muniz has a legitimate career in motorsports and began racing professionally in the mid-2000s. He competed in Formula BMW USA in 2006 and the Champ Car Atlantic Series in 2007. He stepped away due to injuries for a period to focus on acting but later returned to enter stock car racing, transitioning into NASCAR’s development ladder.
It wouldn’t be a stretch to assume that his understanding of racecraft, pit strategy, and driving under pressure could make him a good fit for the project.
With Quaid attached, the series is on track for a series order at AMC, with production eyed for this summer. John Fusco will be the writer for Thunder Road, while Taylor Elmore will serve as the showrunner. The show will be produced in partnership between AMC and NASCAR.
Would you like to see Frankie Muniz in the upcoming NASCAR series? Let us know in the comments section below.
