Frankie Muniz has been released from a Florida hospital after crashing during practice at Daytona International Speedway on November 11. The 40-year-old Malcolm in the Middle star was preparing for Ford’s Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic when the accident forced him out of the evening’s exhibition, NASCAR reported.
Muniz had been assigned to Team Air Force alongside Austin Cindric, according to Ford Racing. The event was designed to support organizations serving military members and veterans.
He was driving a Mustang Dark Horse R prepared for the exhibition. His regular racing seat is in Team Reaume’s No. 33 Ford in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Bryan Cranston, who played his father on the sitcom, was among the event’s announced guests. The actors reunited earlier this year in the four-episode Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair, which premiered on Hulu on April 10.
Muniz Says He Is Sore and Thanks Hospital Staff
Update from Ford Racing about Frankie Muniz. https://t.co/Vs0NGY9efx
Ford Racing (@FordRacing) November 12, 2026
“I am a little sore, but my Mustang did its job in protecting me,” Muniz said in the statement released Wednesday evening. He thanked Ford Racing, the speedway and the hospital staff who treated him, along with everyone who sent messages and prayers.
He expressed disappointment about missing the tribute to veterans and the chance to compete against drivers from other racing disciplines.
Earlier, Team Reaume had said he was awake and alert while undergoing further evaluation. The team asked supporters to respect his privacy as it gathered more information.
Safety Crews Cut Away the Car’s Roof
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 open to the public at the time.
We’re told Frankie was transported to a local medical facility for evaluation, but he is awake and alert. He will no longer participate in the race.
It’s unclear if he will be released in time to attend the race, where his ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ co-star Bryan Cranston was set to appear in support of Frankie.
(📸: Getty Images)Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) November 11, 2026
Muniz had been second-fastest in practice before his car went nose-first into a tire barrier on the infield road course, Motorsport.com reported. Rescue workers cut away the roof to extract him.
Entertainment Tonight was at the track to interview Muniz and published photographs of the damaged vehicle. The session took place before the speedway opened to the public.
Brad Keselowski told FOX Sports that Ford’s data review found no apparent problem with the car before impact. The cause was not announced.
His Family’s Military Service Made the Race Personal
Muniz had discussed his family’s service in an October 28 interview with Us Weekly. His grandfather, John Preli, served in the Navy during World War II, while his father, Francisco, spent more than 20 years as a mechanic in the Navy and Air Force.
Military service had once appealed to Muniz, too, before his career took him in a different direction. His mother had recently returned the military-themed toys he played with as a child, and he was sharing them with his own son.
The race’s format put 12 drivers into six teams, each representing a military branch. Their cars featured designs inspired by aircraft, ships and other military vehicles. The entertainment lineup included the Zac Brown Band, Russell Dickerson and Jo Dee Messina.
Cindric Won After Altzman Took Muniz’s Place
Ford development driver Jenson Altzman replaced Muniz in the No. 30 entry. Cindric drove the other Air Force car to victory, finishing 0.136 seconds ahead of Robert Noaker in the 30-minute race.
The two traded the lead before Cindric made the decisive pass with less than five minutes remaining, Sportscar365 reported. Ryan Preece finished third, ahead of his Navy teammate Logan Sargeant.
Altzman had been involved in the fight for the final podium position before spinning at the Le Mans chicane. The official results placed him 12th, one lap behind the winner.
Muniz Had Just Won His First GT4 America Championship
In October, Muniz and teammate Tyler Stone secured the Pirelli GT4 America Am championship in TechSport Racing’s No. 30 Ford Mustang GT4. It was Muniz’s first season in the series, according to its official report.
The pair won three races during the season’s second half, then finished second in both races at the Indianapolis finale to take the title by 19 points. Alongside that campaign, Muniz continued in the Truck Series, where his best finish remains 10th at the February 2025 Daytona opener.
His son’s excitement about the championship meant a great deal to him, Muniz told Us Weekly before the charity event. He said becoming a father had helped motivate his return to racing: “I decided to go racing because I wanted him to see me doing something that’s hard.”