Arizona-based actor and race car driver Frankie Muniz was injured while practicing for a race in Florida, officials said.
Ford Motor Co.’s racing division issued a statement just hours before its “Proud to Honor: Veterans Day Classic” race at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida was about to kick off, confirming that Muniz was taken to a local hospital after an accident during practice.
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The “Malcolm in the Middle” star has since been released from the hospital, Ford Racing said in a statement.
Here’s what we know about the crash and what happened to Muniz.
What happened to Frankie Muniz?
The race was set to start at 8 p.m. on Nov. 11 with Muniz teaming up with Cup Series driver Austin Cindric on a team representing the Air Force. The statement by Ford Racing indicated that Muniz was “awake and alert” and his team would still compete but with a different driver.
“Frankie Muniz was involved in an incident while practicing for today’s Proud to Honor event at Daytona International Speedway,” Ford Racing’s statement read. “He was transported to a local medical facility for further evaluation. He is awake and alert.
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Ford Racing issued a statement indicating Muniz was released from the hospital on Wednesday night.
“I’m a little sore, but my Mustang did its job in protecting me,” Muniz said in the statement posted to X. “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.”
Muniz said in a media interview in late October, that he was excited to participate in the race honoring veterans because his grandfather and father served in the Navy and Air Force respectively.
“Some of my favorite memories as a kid was visiting my dad on the base,” Muniz said at the time. “I was always so, so proud. This is our way of saying thank you.”
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In his statement, Muniz indicated he was “disappointed” he couldn’t participate in the event as he was looking forward to “honoring the service of our veterans and racing against these other amazing drivers.”
Frankie Muniz is a long-time Arizona resident
The actor turned race car driver most famously known for his role as Malcolm in “Malcolm in the Middle” has been an Arizona resident for more than a decade now, living in the state longer than he’s lived anywhere else.
He and his now ex-wife, Paige, bought property in north Phoenix, where they built their home, which included a racing simulator room. The two also operated an olive oil store in Scottsdale for a few years.
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He split from his wife earlier the year, but he indicated the two will keep building Muniz Racing together and co-parent their son with the same teamwork and love they’ve always had.
“We’re closing one chapter with gratitude and opening the next with bright futures ahead, for us as individuals and especially for our son,” the statement said.
Muniz was introduced to racing in 2011, after he attended his first Daytona 500 and rode in the pace car. Since then, his love of competitive racing has only grown.
In 2007, he began racing by joining the Champ Car Atlantic Series at age 21. Three years later he suffered a career-altering injury that damaged his back, ankle and wrist, forcing him to pause his racing career.
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He later returned to racing. He now drives for Team Ramune driving the No. 33 Ford F-150 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona actor Frankie Muniz injured in racecar event. What happened
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
