Frankie Muniz was released from a hospital Wednesday after crashing during practice at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The 40-year-old actor and NASCAR driver had been preparing for Ford’s Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic, a charity exhibition race held on Veterans Day.
Muniz was awake and alert when he was taken to a local medical facility for evaluation, according to statements from Team Reaume and Ford Racing. Later Wednesday, Ford confirmed that he had been released, and Muniz said he was “a little sore” after the crash.
“I am disappointed I won’t be able to take part in Ford’s Proud to Honor event tonight,” Muniz said in a statement. “I was looking forward to honoring the service of our veterans and racing against these other amazing drivers.”
Crash Occurred During Practice on Daytona Road Course
The incident happened during practice before the 30-minute exhibition race on Daytona’s road course. Sportscar365 reported that Muniz’s No. 30 Ford Mustang Dark Horse R became lodged beneath a tire barrier in the infield portion of the circuit.
Officials did not immediately announce what caused the crash. Early reports did not establish a mechanical failure, outside interference or another specific cause, so any explanation for the incident remained unconfirmed Wednesday night.
Muniz thanked Ford Racing, Daytona International Speedway and hospital staff after his release. He also credited the race car with protecting him, saying, “My Mustang did its job in protecting me.”
The crash forced Muniz to withdraw from the Veterans Day Classic. He had been scheduled to race for Team Air Force alongside NASCAR Cup Series driver Austin Cindric, the 2022 Daytona 500 winner.
Ford development driver Jenson Altzman replaced Muniz in the No. 30 Mustang and qualified fourth. Cindric started from the pole in the other Team Air Force entry.
Cindric later won the inaugural event, edging Robert Noaker in a close finish. Noaker represented the Marines, while Ryan Preece finished third for Team Navy.
Veterans Day Event Supported Military Families
Ford described the Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic as a military tribute featuring six two-driver teams, with each team representing a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. Drivers competed in Ford Mustang Dark Horse R race cars at Daytona International Speedway.
The event was also designed to raise money for military members, veterans and their families. Ford said the Proud to Honor Fund, supported by GlobalGiving and Ford Philanthropy, would benefit organizations serving military communities.
Muniz had been one of the more recognizable participants because of his unusual path from television stardom to professional racing. He became famous as the title character on the Fox sitcom Malcolm in the Middle, which originally ran from 2000 to 2006.
His racing career began well before his recent NASCAR seasons. Muniz moved into professional open-wheel competition in the mid-2000s and later returned to full-time racing after spending years away from the sport.
He completed a full ARCA Menards Series season in 2023 and recorded 11 top-10 finishes. He then moved into NASCAR competition and has driven the No. 33 Ford for Team Reaume in the Craftsman Truck Series during the past two seasons.
Muniz’s best NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series finish came at Daytona in 2025, when he placed 10th in the season opener. The result came at the same track where Wednesday’s practice crash occurred, although the Veterans Day exhibition used Daytona’s road course rather than the standard superspeedway configuration.
Earlier in the 2026 Truck Series season, Muniz was involved in another crash at Bristol Motor Speedway. NASCAR video from the April 10 race showed Muniz and Tyler Reif hitting the wall in Turn 3, with Timmy Hill also collected in the incident.
Wednesday’s crash was different because Muniz was transported for medical evaluation and removed from the evening event. His team initially asked supporters to respect his privacy while further information was gathered.
Muniz Also Returned to ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ in 2026
Muniz’s racing season has coincided with a return to the television role that made him famous. Hulu released the four-episode revival Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair on April 10, 2026.
The limited series reunited Muniz with Bryan Cranston, Jane Kaczmarek, Christopher Kennedy Masterson, Justin Berfield and Emy Coligado. Cranston, who played Malcolm’s father Hal in the original series, was also scheduled to appear at the Daytona Veterans Day event in support of Muniz.
The revival marked a major acting return for Muniz after years in which racing became a central part of his professional life. His motorsports career has included open-wheel racing, stock cars, ARCA and NASCAR competition.
Muniz has repeatedly treated racing as more than a celebrity side project. His full-time seasons in national racing series have required the same qualifying, practice and race schedules faced by other competitors.
For Wednesday’s exhibition, however, his day ended before the green flag. Altzman took over the second Air Force car, while Cindric carried Team Air Force to victory.
Muniz did not announce a timetable Wednesday night for returning to the track. His statement focused instead on his condition, the safety of the Mustang and his appreciation for the people who helped him after the crash.
The most important update by the end of the night was that Muniz had left the hospital. Although he missed the Veterans Day Classic, he was able to report that he was only “a little sore” after an incident serious enough to require medical evaluation.