Actor and race car driver Frankie Muniz was hospitalised on Wednesday after a practice-lap crash at Daytona International Speedway, his racing team said. Team Reaume said the "Malcolm in the Middle" star was "awake and alert" after the incident.
The 40-year-old Muniz was practising for the Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic, a benefit exhibition race scheduled for Wednesday night on Daytona's road course. He was taken to a local medical facility for further evaluation, and was released from hospital later on Wednesday evening.
Muniz said he was "a little sore" but that his Mustang "did its job in protecting me." In a statement released through Ford Racing, he said: "I am disappointed I won't be able to take part in Ford's Proud to Honor event tonight. I want to thank everyone at Ford Racing, Daytona International Speedway and the staff here at the hospital." The crash ruled him out of the race.
Muniz and NASCAR driver Austin Cindric had been set to represent Team Air Force in the exhibition, which benefits six nonprofits that support military and veteran communities through the Proud to Honor Fund. A dozen Ford Racing drivers were split into six teams to race head-to-head in Mustang Dark Horse cars, each honouring a branch of the United States military. Musical performances by the Zac Brown Band, Russell Dickerson, Jo Dee Messina, Brittney Spencer and Warren Zeiders were also part of the event.
Muniz was nominated for an Emmy and two Golden Globe Awards for his work in "Malcolm in the Middle" and was one of the best-known child actors of his time. He has also appeared in films such as "Big Fat Liar," "Deuces Wild," "Agent Cody Banks" and "Racing Stripes."
According to his website, Muniz took a hiatus from the entertainment world in 2006 to pursue professional race car driving. He began competing in the Formula BMW USA Championship and later raced in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship from 2007 to 2009. In 2024, Muniz ran 38 races each on the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts and trucks series, and he has competed in 117 truck series races over the last three years, with one top-10 finish at Daytona in 2025.
