Actor and NASCAR driver Frankie Muniz has been released from hospital after an accident during practice for a Veterans Day exhibition race at Daytona International Speedway.
The 40-year-old, best known for playing the title role in Malcolm in the Middle, was taken to a medical facility on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, following an incident while practising for Ford’s Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic in Florida.
His NASCAR team initially said he was awake and alert and had been taken for further evaluation. Ford Racing subsequently announced that he had been discharged.
What Frankie Muniz said after the crash
In a statement carried by NASCAR, Muniz said he was disappointed to miss the event and thanked those who had supported him.
“I am a little sore, but my Mustang did its job in protecting me.”
Frankie Muniz, in a statement released through Ford Racing
No detailed medical diagnosis was disclosed in that statement. His release from hospital is confirmed, but the full circumstances of the crash have not been publicly established in the information released by the team and event organisers.
Why Muniz was racing at Daytona
Muniz was due to share a Ford Mustang Dark Horse R with NASCAR Cup Series driver Austin Cindric, representing the US Air Force in a charity exhibition honouring military veterans. Ford development driver Jenson Altzman took his place following the accident.
The event brought together drivers from several racing disciplines and supported organisations working with US service members, veterans and their families.
Although his acting career made him a household name, Muniz has pursued professional motorsport for several years. He raced in the ARCA Menards Series in 2023 and drives for Team Reaume in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Video: The aftermath at Daytona
Entertainment Tonight reported from Daytona and showed footage of the damaged racing car. Its original headline concerned Muniz being hospitalised, before confirmation that he had been discharged.
