JOLIET, Ill. (June 17, 2015) – Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Reed returns to Chicagoland Speedway this weekend in hopes of adding two additional starts to his racing resume. Before Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series race, Reed will pilot the No. 58 Lilly Diabetes Lira Motorsports Ford Fusion in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.
Reed has one other ARCA start at Chicagoland, which came in 2012. He made 14 starts in the series that year, earning his best finish of fifth in the Chicagoland event.
“We are very excited to have Reed with us for Chicagoland,” commented team owner Carlos Lira. “As we build our team into a championship-caliber organization, and plan for future growth and expansion, receiving feedback from a driver of his experience and talent will be invaluable.”
In its first season in the ARCA Racing Series, Lira Motorsports has already recorded eight top-10 finishes through the first nine races between the organization’s two entries.
“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to return to the ARCA Racing Series this weekend with Lira Motorsports,” said Reed. “The team has proven they are here to compete for wins and it would be great to get one for them this weekend.”
Reed is slated to complete 400 miles at the 1.5-mile oval on Saturday afternoon between the two back-to-back races. His XFINITY Series pit crew will also serve as the pit crew for the No. 58 Lilly Diabetes Lira Motorsports Ford Fusion.
Reed’s XFINITY Series crew chief Seth Barbour hopes the extra time in the car will give Reed an advantage over the rest of the field for the 200-lap NASCAR XFINITY Series event.
“The extra seat time for Ryan should really get him focused for our race,” said Barbour. “Just getting familiar with the feel of the racetrack again and noticing how it changes throughout the race will be really beneficial for him.”
In addition to his start in the ARCA Racing Series, The 21-year-old Bakersfield, Calif. native has two starts in the NASCAR XFINITY Series at Chicagoland, recording 15th- and 24th-place finishes in the 2014 events, respectively.
Reed enters this weekend’s race eighth in the NASCAR XFINITY Series championship standings after recording one win and eight top-15 finishes so far this season.
The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Scott 150 from Chicagoland Speedway will be televised live on Fox Sports 2 on Saturday, June 20 at 7 p.m. ET.
Immediately following the race, Reed will return to the driver’s seat of the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes American Diabetes Association Ford Mustang for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Owens Corning AttiCat 300 race at 9:30 p.m. ET. The race will air live on Fox Sports 1.
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.
