Frankie Muniz Released From Hospital After Daytona Crash, Says He’s ‘a Little Sore’
The actor-turned-driver had to be cut from his Mustang after a practice wreck before Ford’s Veterans Day charity race at Daytona.
Frankie Muniz is out of the hospital and says he’s “a little sore.”
The “Malcolm in the Middle” star turned race car driver crashed during a practice lap at Daytona International Speedway on Wednesday, hours before Ford’s Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic. He was taken to a local hospital, where Ford Racing said he was awake and alert, and he was released later Wednesday evening, ESPN reported.
Frankie Muniz is in the hospital after he was involved in a crash at the Daytona International Speedway.
ET was on site to interview Frankie, who was set to drive for Team Air Force at Ford's Veterans Day Classic, when he crashed during a practice lap. The speedway was not… pic.twitter.com/6XxUDbu7je— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) November 11, 2026
What happened in the Frankie Muniz Daytona crash
The wreck was a scary one. Safety crews had to cut Muniz out of his Ford Mustang, Motorsport.com reported, and the top of the car was removed so he could get out, according to Entertainment Tonight. He had been running second-fastest in practice before the crash.
The track was closed to the public at the time. Muniz was ruled out of the night’s race, and the broadcast acknowledged it, with an announcer telling viewers he would not start after a practice crash earlier in the day, per NBC News.
Muniz: “a little sore”
Muniz said in a statement that he was disappointed he couldn’t take part in the event and credited the Mustang with doing its job to protect him. He thanked Ford Racing, Daytona International Speedway and the hospital staff.
“Malcolm in the Middle” star Frankie Muniz was rushed to the hospital after crashing his race car during a practice lap at the Daytona International Speedway.https://t.co/Bb4SSgOqtv pic.twitter.com/et9sfCYNZg
— Variety (@Variety) November 11, 2026
His Truck Series team, Team Reaume, had asked fans to respect his privacy while he was being evaluated and promised updates as they came, the Associated Press reported.
The race he missed
The Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic was a charity exhibition on Daytona’s road course. A dozen Ford Racing drivers were split into six two-driver teams, each representing a branch of the U.S. military, in Mustang Dark Horse cars. Muniz was set to drive for Team Air Force alongside NASCAR Cup driver Austin Cindric, CBS News reported. The event benefits six nonprofits that support military and veteran communities.
Muniz’s racing career
Muniz stepped away from acting in 2006 to chase a pro racing career, and he’s stuck with it. He has run 117 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races over the last three years, with one top-10 finish, at Daytona in 2025, according to the AP.
This isn’t his first scare at a track, either. He also crashed during a practice in April but wasn’t seriously hurt, TMZ reported, per Fox News.
For now, the good news is simple: he walked away sore, not seriously hurt.
Sources: ESPN, Motorsport.com, NBC News, AP via Yahoo Sports, CBS News, Fox News, ET on X, Variety on X