DAYTONA BEACH, FL. (THECOUNT) — Frankie Muniz, the actor best known for starring in “Malcolm in the Middle,” was hospitalized Wednesday after crashing during practice at Daytona International Speedway ahead of Ford’s Veterans Day Classic. The 40-year-old was later released and said he was doing okay, although he was sore.
Muniz was practicing for the Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic, an exhibition race scheduled for Wednesday evening, Nov. 11, when the crash occurred. He had been scheduled to represent Team Air Force alongside NASCAR driver Austin Cindric.
Advertisement
Ford Racing confirmed Muniz was transported to a local medical facility for evaluation. His racing team, Team Reaume, said he was awake and alert following the incident.
Photos of the No. 30 Team Air Force Ford Mustang showed significant damage to the roof of the car. According to local reporting, safety crews had to cut the roof off the vehicle to extricate Muniz.
Muniz was discharged from the hospital later Wednesday. In a statement released through Ford Racing, he said he was disappointed he could not participate in the event.
“I am disappointed I won’t be able to take part in Ford’s Proud to Honor event tonight,” Muniz said. “I was looking forward to honoring the service of our veterans and racing against these other amazing drivers.”
“I am a little sore, but my Mustang did its job in protecting me,” he added, thanking Ford Racing, Daytona International Speedway, hospital staff and those who had reached out with support.
The Ford Veterans Day Classic featured drivers from multiple racing disciplines, including NASCAR, competing in an exhibition honoring the six branches of the U.S. military. Muniz had been scheduled to drive for Team Air Force with Cindric.
Ford development driver Jenson Altzman replaced Muniz in the event. Actor Bryan Cranston, who portrayed Muniz’s father on “Malcolm in the Middle,” was also scheduled to attend the race.
Muniz began his professional racing career in 2004 and has competed in several racing series. He currently drives for Team Reaume in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, where he pilots a Ford F-150.
The crash was not his first racing incident this year. Muniz also wrecked a “Malcolm in the Middle”-themed truck in April, shortly before the show’s revival premiered.
Muniz has endured a difficult year away from the racetrack as well. In July, the actor announced that he and his wife, Paige Price, were ending their marriage after 10 years together. The former couple, who share a young son, said they planned to remain friends and continue co-parenting. Two months later, Muniz opened up about the emotional toll of the split, describing the previous six weeks as a “nightmare” and admitting he felt as though multiple parts of his life were falling apart at once. He said the experience forced him into painful self-reflection and motivated him to make significant personal changes.
The crash occurred at Daytona International Speedway, located in Daytona Beach in Volusia County, along Florida’s Atlantic coast. The link below identifies the speedway, not the precise location of the practice crash.
Google Maps: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL
DEVELOPING::