Frankie Muniz hospitalized after crash at Daytona International Speedway: Report

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Actor and race car driver Frankie Muniz was taken to a hospital Wednesday after crashing during a practice lap at Daytona International Speedway, according to reports.

Muniz, best known for starring in the television sitcom "Malcolm in the Middle," was practicing ahead of the Ford Veterans Day Classic, an exhibition race scheduled for Wednesday evening, Entertainment Tonight and Motorsport reported.

Frankie Muniz hospitalized after race car crash

Big picture view:

According to Entertainment Tonight, who was at the scene of the incident, Muniz crashed during a practice lap. Rescue crews had to cut off the top of his car to get him out.
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A photo of the Team Air Force car Muniz was expected to drive showed significant damage to the vehicle's roof following the crash.

RELATED: Actor Frankie Muniz, known for 'Malcolm in the Middle,' to start NASCAR career

What they're saying:

His racing team later confirmed the incident in a statement.

"Frankie Muniz was involved in an incident while practicing for today's Proud to Honor event at Daytona International Speedway," Team Reaume said on X. "He was taken to a local medical facility for further evaluation and is awake and alert." 

He will not compete in Wednesday's race, according to reports.

Dig deeper:

Twelve Ford drivers were set to compete in the special all-Mustang charity race around Daytona International Speedway Wednesday evening, honoring Veteran's Day. The entry list included names like Joey Logano, Logan Sargeant, and Frankie Muniz, according to Motorsport.

Entertainment Tonight said Muniz's on-screen dad from "Malcolm in the Middle," Bryan Cranston, was going to be present for the race at Daytona in support of Muniz.⁠

The backstory:

In 2023, Muniz announced that he would start competing as a full-time race car driver for NASCAR.

"I want to prove to people that like I’m here to take it seriously," Muniz told reporters at the time. "I’m not just here for a fluke. I’m not just here for publicity. I wanted this my entire life, you know what I mean?"

He added, "I’m mad I waited 12 years after my last racing experience to get here. I want people to look at me and see me on track and go, ‘Wow, he belongs,’ and I’m ready to prove to everyone that I do. Hopefully I do."

Earlier this year, Muniz reunited with his former co-stars for the highly anticipated revival of "Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair," which brought the beloved sitcom back nearly 20 years after its original finale. The four-episode series followed an adult Malcolm and premiered in April on Hulu.

This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.  

The Source: The information for this story was provided by Entertainment Tonight, TMZ, and Motorsport. This story was reported from Los Angeles.