PARTA, Ky. (July 11, 2015) – Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Reed and the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes American Diabetes Association team finished 14th on Friday night at Kentucky Speedway after starting 12th and running inside the top-15 the majority of the race.
“Overall our No. 16 Lilly Diabetes American Diabetes Association Ford Mustang handled really well and was pretty fast tonight,” said Reed. “We unloaded off the truck pretty decent and I really liked the way the car handled in practice yesterday. I just didn’t have what I needed on restarts to race those guys and it’s super hard to pass here. We will work on some things and look for a top-10 finish next weekend at New Hampshire.”
Reed started the 200-lap event from the 12th position after Friday afternoon’s qualifying session was cancelled due to rain. The field lined up by practice speeds, putting Reed on the outside of the sixth row for the start.
The caution flag flew after just two laps of racing, leaving Reed in the 10th position for the restart on Lap 8. He was quiet on the radio until the Lap 25 competition caution. At that time, he reported that the car was pretty good but a little free on entry into the turns. Crew chief Seth Barbour brought him down pit road for four fresh tires and a track bar adjustment.
Reed restarted the race in the 15th position on Lap 30 and continued to fight for position throughout the first quarter of the race. By Lap 50, Barbour told his driver that his lap times were pretty good and that the rest of the field’s times were falling off more than Reed’s.
The race saw its second caution of the night on Lap 70 while Reed was running in the 16th position. He told the team that the balance of the car was pretty good but he could use some help in the center of the turns. Barbour brought Reed down pit road for four tires and a track bar adjustment. The pit crew’s quick work gained Reed four spots, putting him in the 12th position for the restart on Lap 77.
After another quick caution, Reed reported the car’s handling was very loose after a longer green flag run. By Lap 115, he reported he could feel the tires wearing down a good bit but that the car had tightened up as the run progressed.
The team made their only green flag pit stop of the night on Lap 132 for a round of wedge in the left rear of the car and four fresh tires. Reed maintained the 15th position with 50 laps to go in the race.
The final caution of the evening was on Lap 162. At this time, Reed pitted for a wedge adjustment, four fresh tires and enough fuel to make it to the end. Reed restarted 13th with 35 laps to go and battled for position through the end, finishing 14th. His finish at Kentucky marks his 11th top-15 finish of the season.
Reed falls to 10th in the NASCAR XFINITY Series championship standings after Friday’s race. He and the No. 16 team return to the track on Saturday, July 18 at New Hampshire 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. 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.
