Frankie Muniz was released from the hospital on Wednesday evening after crashing during a practice session at Daytona International Speedway. The 40-year-old actor and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver described himself as “a little sore” but credited his Ford Mustang for protecting him during the incident.
In a statement shared through Ford Racing, Muniz said, “I want to thank everyone at Ford Racing, Daytona International Speedway and the staff here at the hospital. I especially want to thank everyone who has reached out and for all the prayers.” He also expressed disappointment at missing the Ford Proud To Honor Veterans Day Classic, an exhibition race held at Daytona’s road course where he was originally scheduled to compete.
The crash occurred on November 11 during a closed track practice session. Team Reaume and Ford confirmed that Muniz was “awake and alert” after the accident. Images published by Entertainment Tonight showed significant damage to Muniz’s racecar, with the roof removed. His “Malcolm in the Middle” co-star Bryan Cranston was reportedly expected to watch the event.
Ford development driver Jenson Altzman, 24, stepped in to replace Muniz for the exhibition race. NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski told reporters before the event that the crash was not due to any vehicle malfunction. “The team here at Ford Racing looked through all the data and didn’t find anything happened to the car [before the crash],” Keselowski said. “I think we’re all pretty comfortable.”
Muniz’s return to racing follows a career marked by multiple injuries and a long hiatus. After rising to fame as a child actor in the late 1990s, most notably on “Malcolm in the Middle,” he shifted focus to stock car racing. He announced a comeback to the ARCA Menards Series in 2023, more than a decade after suffering season-ending injuries early in his racing career. Since 2025, he has driven full-time in the Truck Series for Team Reaume, piloting the No. 33 Ford and achieving seven top-20 finishes across two seasons, including four this year.
Earlier in 2026, Muniz and co-driver Tyler Stone won the Am Class championship in the GT4 America Series, racing a TechSport Racing Ford Mustang. Muniz described his first experience with sports cars as a steep learning curve but ultimately rewarding. “Going into this, I’ve never raced sports cars,” he said after clinching the title at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “My first time ever in a GT4 car was for the first practice session at Sonoma. I thank Ford Racing for pushing me in this direction.”
Muniz is scheduled to continue competing in both NASCAR’s Truck Series and the GT4 America Series in 2027. His career blends entertainment and motorsport, with a focus now firmly on racing despite his high-profile Hollywood background.
This crash marks the latest setback in Muniz’s racing journey but his statement highlights the safety features of the Mustang and the support he has received from the racing community. NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney, who was also set to race in the exhibition, withdrew the day before after an unrelated medical issue.
Muniz’s personal life has been marked by recent changes as well. He and Paige Muniz, whom he married in 2019, announced their separation and divorce earlier this year. They share a 5-year-old son, Mauz.
The actor and driver’s recovery and return to competition remain closely followed by fans from both worlds.
According to Yahoo Sports.
