Frankie Muniz has been released from hospital after a practice-lap crash at Daytona International Speedway on Wednesday, telling fans he is ‘a little sore’ but that his car did its job in protecting him. The 40-year-old Malcolm in the Middle star was taken to a local medical facility for evaluation after the incident, with his team confirming he was ‘awake and alert’ throughout.
According to the Associated Press, Muniz was practicing for the Ford Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic, a benefit race set for Wednesday night on Daytona’s road course, when he crashed his No. 30 Ford Mustang Dark Horse R. Team Reaume said in a statement: ‘Frankie Muniz was involved in an incident while practicing for today’s Proud to Honor event at Daytona International Speedway. He was transported to a local medical facility for further evaluation and is awake and alert.’ Ford Racing confirmed later on Wednesday evening that Muniz had been released from hospital.
A race he had to miss
The crash forced Muniz out of the Veterans Day Classic, an exhibition race in which six teams, each named for a branch of the US military, compete to benefit six nonprofits supporting military and veteran communities through the Proud to Honor Fund. Muniz and NASCAR Cup Series driver Austin Cindric had been set to represent Team Air Force. In his statement after his release, Muniz said: ‘I am disappointed I won’t be able to take part in Ford’s Proud to Honor event tonight. I am a little sore, but my Mustang did its job in protecting me. I want to thank everyone at Ford Racing, Daytona International Speedway and the staff here at the hospital.’
Photographs published by Entertainment Weekly showed damage to the No. 30 Mustang. Daytona was not open to the public at the time of the crash, and the cause of the incident has not been disclosed.
Not his first scare of 2026
The Daytona crash was not Muniz’s first of the year, although it was the first to send him to hospital. He was involved in a crash during an April NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway but walked away from that incident. Muniz, who found fame as a child star before turning to motorsport full-time, has built a second career in racing and competes regularly in NASCAR’s truck series.
For now, the actor-turned-driver is recovering at home, with no timeline given for his return to the track. Fans will be watching for news of his next race, and for the moment the relief is that a frightening crash ended with its driver walking out of hospital the same day. See also Jamie Foxx welcomes third child at 58.
