HAMPTON, Ga. (February 2, 2015) – Ryan Reed earned a 16th-place finish in Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) race at Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) after a late-race caution caught the team on pit road in the middle of their final green-flag stop.
Reed fought tight conditions for most of the race and was gaining ground after the team made adjustments to the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes/American Diabetes Association Ford Mustang. During the team’s final green-flag pit stop on lap-133, the caution came out, putting the team a lap down and preventing Reed from gaining any additional ground in the 163-lap Hisense 250.
“That wasn’t a reflection of what we had there,” said Reed. “We didn’t finish where we wanted to, but if that caution wouldn’t have come out for that last pit stop, then we would have been fine. We were up there around top-10, which would have been a lot more indicative of how we ran today. We ran 13th for a lot of the race and I felt like 13th to 10th is about the car we had and we need to keep building on that. We’re still figuring out the ins and outs of this new platform that we’ve got, but I think we’re headed in the right direction.”
Reed started the 251-mile event from the 19th spot, but quickly gained three positions and ran around 16th for most of the race. He complained of tight conditions early so the team took one round of wedge out of the left rear on the lap-47 green-flag pit stop. Reed continued to complain of tight conditions so the team pitted again during the lap-85 debris caution for tires, fuel, a track bar adjustment and took a spring rubber out of the left rear.
When it was time for the last pit stop of the day, Reed suggested to crew chief Seth Barbour that they continue with the same adjustments that they had made on the last stop because the car’s handling had improved significantly. The team was halfway through their pit stop when the caution flew for debris, trapping Reed on pit road and causing him to lose a lap.
Reed was able to take a wave-around and restarted in the 15th position with 12 laps to go. Despite having the adjustments he needed to move through the field, there were not enough laps for Reed to do so.
Reed ran as high as the 13th position in Saturday’s race and improved his finishing position by two over his first appearance at the track in 2014.
Reed leaves Atlanta third in the NASCAR XFINITY Series points standings, eight behind teammate Chris Buescher and Ty Dillon, who both have 83 points.
Reed and the NXS return to action next weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Roush Fenway Racing is the winningest team in NASCAR history, fielding multiple teams in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series competition with drivers Greg Biffle, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Trevor Bayne, Elliott Sadler, Ryan Reed, Chris Buescher and Bubba Wallace. Now in its 28th season, Roush Fenway is a leader in driver development, having launched the careers for many of the top drivers in the sport. Off-track, Roush Fenway is a leader in NASCAR marketing solutions, pioneering motorsport’s first team-focused TV show and producing multiple award-winning digital and experiential marketing campaigns. Roush Fenway is co-owned by Jack Roush, the winningest team owner in NASCAR history and Fenway Sports Group, parent company of Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox and English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C. Visit RoushFenway.com, circle on Google+, become a fan on Facebook and Instagram and follow on Twitter at @roushfenway.
About The American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes® and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information, please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.
About Lilly Diabetes
Lilly has been a global leader in diabetes care since 1923, when we introduced the world’s first commercial insulin. Today we are building upon this heritage by working to meet the diverse needs of people with diabetes and those who care for them. Through research and collaboration, a broad and growing product portfolio and a continued determination to provide real solutions—from medicines to support programs and more—we strive to make life better for all those affected by diabetes around the world. For more information, visit www.lillydiabetes.com or follow us on Twitter: @LillyDiabetes.
