Actor and race car driver Frankie Muniz has been released from hospital after crashing during a practice session at Daytona International Speedway in Florida on Wednesday, November 11. The former Malcolm in the Middle star said he was “a little sore” but had to pull out of a Veterans Day charity race that evening.
What We Know
Muniz, 40, was on track at Daytona ahead of the Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic, a benefit exhibition hosted by Ford Racing on the speedway’s road course. The crash happened during a practice lap, according to the Associated Press, and was confirmed by Ford Racing.
His team, Team Reaume, initially said Muniz had been taken to hospital and was “awake and alert,” ESPN reported, adding that updates would follow and asking fans to respect his privacy. He was released later the same day. Details of how the crash unfolded have not been made public.
In a statement shared after his release, Muniz said he was disappointed to miss the event and that he was “a little sore, but my Mustang did its job in protecting me,” according to CBS News and the AP. He added that he had been looking forward to honoring the service of veterans and racing against the other drivers.
Background
The Proud to Honor event split 12 Ford Racing drivers into six head-to-head teams, each representing a branch of the U.S. military and driving Mustang Dark Horse cars. Muniz had been paired with NASCAR Cup Series driver Austin Cindric on Team Air Force. Money raised goes to six nonprofits that support military and veteran communities through the Proud to Honor Fund. The evening also featured performances from Zac Brown Band, Russell Dickerson, Jo Dee Messina, Brittney Spencer and Warren Zeiders.
Muniz is best known for playing the title role in Fox’s Malcolm in the Middle from 2000 to 2006, alongside Bryan Cranston as his father, Hal. The part earned him an Emmy nomination and two Golden Globe nominations, and he also headlined family films such as Big Fat Liar, Agent Cody Banks and Racing Stripes.
Racing has been a serious second career rather than a hobby. Muniz stepped away from acting in 2006 to compete professionally, first in Formula BMW USA and then in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship between 2007 and 2009. He was running fourth in the 2009 Atlantic standings with two races left when an injury ended his season and required several surgeries.
He returned to the sport in later years and moved into NASCAR’s national series. In 2024 he ran full seasons in both the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and the Craftsman Truck Series, and he has made 117 Truck Series starts over the last three years, with a top-10 finish at Daytona in 2025, according to the AP.
Like other former child stars who have reinvented themselves, such as Jennette McCurdy, Muniz has often spoken about building a life beyond the role that made him famous.
Reactions
Team Reaume’s update that Muniz was “awake and alert” brought quick relief to fans who had followed the news on social media. Muniz’s own message, focused on the veterans the race was meant to honor, was widely shared after his release.
What’s Next
Neither Muniz nor his team has said whether the crash will affect his upcoming racing plans. Further updates are expected from Team Reaume.
Sources
- CBS News / AP – Frankie Muniz released from hospital after crash at Daytona
- ESPN – Actor Frankie Muniz released from hospital, ‘little sore’ after Daytona crash
- CBC News – Actor turned race-car driver Frankie Muniz released from hospital after crash
- TMZ – Frankie Muniz released from hospital