Frankie Muniz Gives Health Update After Scary Daytona Crash: "My Mustang Did Its Job"
The Malcolm in the Middle star, 40, was practicing on Wednesday, November 11, for Ford's Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic when he crashed his Mustang on the speedway's road course. His team, Team Reaume, confirmed he was taken to a local medical facility for further evaluation and was "awake and alert."
Cut From the Car — Then Released the Same Night
Photos from the aftermath showed heavy damage to Muniz's car, and safety crews had to cut away the roof to get him out after he hit a tire barrier on the infield section of the course. The good news followed quickly: Muniz was released from hospital on Wednesday evening.
"I am a little sore, but my Mustang did its job in protecting me," Muniz said in a statement shared by Ford Racing. "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."
"Disappointed" to Miss the Big Night
Muniz had been set to partner with Cup Series driver Austin Cindric on a team representing the Air Force in the exhibition event, which benefits six nonprofits supporting military and veteran communities through the Proud to Honor Fund. The crash ruled him out of Wednesday night's race.
"I am disappointed I won't be able to take part in Ford's Proud to Honor event tonight," he said. Fellow driver Brad Keselowski told reporters the crash was not caused by a vehicle malfunction.
From Sitcom Star to NASCAR Driver
Muniz — an Emmy-nominated actor who shot to fame as the title character of Malcolm in the Middle — has built a second career in motorsport and now competes in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Team Reaume. Wednesday's scare is a reminder of how quickly that second career can turn dangerous, even in practice for a charity event.
For now, the only headline that matters to his fans is the simplest one: he walked away, he is home, and by his own account he is just a little sore.
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