BROOKLYN, Mich. (June 13, 2015) – Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Reed and the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes American Diabetes Association team finished 19th on Saturday afternoon at Michigan International Speedway (MIS) after starting in the same position for the 125-lap event and suffering a broken splitter on Lap 20.
“We started out pretty decent and this was actually the best car I’ve ever had at Michigan,” said Reed. “It’s a shame we didn’t get to use the speed we had. We’ll regroup for Chicago next week and try to make up some ground in the points.”
After starting 19th, Reed quickly made his way through the field and was up to the 13th position by Lap 10. He had no complaints about the car other than it was a little loose on entry into the corners. Ten laps later, Reed reported that he felt a vibration in the right front of the car that felt similar to a tire going down.
Reed held on to the car until the Lap 25 competition caution. Crew Chief Seth Barbour brought Reed down pit road and the team determined that the car’s splitter had come loose. Initially, the team made two stops to attach a bracket to the splitter and the front of the car. The team used the next several caution periods to continue repairs and re-attach the splitter. Reed held on to the 32nd position by the Lap 32 restart.
By the halfway point of the race, the team continued to make adjustments on each pit stop and Reed reported that the car was getting better. By the Lap 90 caution flag, Reed was up to the 20th position and fighting his way back through the field.
After a brief caution flag on Lap 108, the field took the green on Lap 110. Soon after, several cars in the field were involved in an incident. Reed was clipped in the right front and went spinning through the grass. The team brought Reed down pit road to move the fender away from the wheel and clean grass out of the grille of the car.
Reed restarted in the 23rd position and used the last 10 laps of the race to make his way into the top-20, eventually finishing the race in 19th.
Reed remains eighth in the NASCAR XFINITY Series championship standings after Saturday’s race. He and teammate Chris Buescher are the only NASCAR XFINITY Series regulars to win a race this season. Reed and the No. 16 team return to the track on Saturday, June 20 at Chicagoland 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. For the past 75 years, our mission has been 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.
