Ryan Reed – Darlington Advance
Team: No. 16 Lilly Diabetes American Diabetes Association Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Chad Norris
Twitter: @driverRyanReed, @Reed16Team and @RoushFenway
ADVANCE NOTES
Reed at Darlington
Ryan Reed has competed at Darlington Raceway just once in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. In his first appearance at the track in 2014, Reed finished 13th after starting 18th.
The Car
The No. 16 Lilly Diabetes American Diabetes Association Ford Mustang will carry a throwback scheme this weekend in celebration of the race’s return to Labor Day weekend. The car sports vintage Lilly Diabetes and American Diabetes Association logos in addition to fonts and a color scheme reminiscent of racecars that were in competition in the 1970’s.
The car will carry a vintage Lilly Diabetes logo from 1923, which is the year that the company joined with researchers at the University of Toronto, who founded insulin, to mass produce insulin. The American Diabetes Association logo is from 1940, the year the association was founded. This logo was used until 1974.
Riding with Ryan
American Diabetes Association® Youth Ambassador Asher Huddlestun of Columbia, S.C. will have his name featured on a decal below the passenger-side door on the No. 16 Ford Mustang this weekend at Darlington Raceway. The 13-year-old was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2013 at the age of 11 and has been an advocate for those living with the disease ever since. He serves as a mentor to newly-diagnosed friends and is excited to share his story with the community. He participates in South Carolina’s Tour De Cure® cycling event to fundraise for the American Diabetes Association and help find a cure for the disease. Like Reed, Huddelstun knows that being active is critical to managing his diabetes. He enjoys running, riding his bike and participating in Boy Scouts.
Local Connection
The No. 16 team’s front tire carrier, Kevin Richardson, hails from nearby Elizabethtown, N.C., just under 90 miles from Darlington Raceway. Richardson is a former starting running back for the Appalachian State Mountaineers, who holds records for the most career rushing yards, the most rushing yards in a single season, the highest career all-purpose yardage, and the most rushing touchdowns in a single season from 2005-2007. He was instrumental in the team’s success and three national championship titles during his time there. In 2013, he was inducted into the Appalachian State Athletic Hall of Fame. He is also a graduate of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity Crew Member Development program.
Road America Recap
Reed finished 19th at Road America on Saturday after starting 24th. Reed ran as high as 13th during the event, but fell back after a late-race restart left him with older tires than his competition.
2015 Season
Reed is currently 10th in the NASCAR XFINITY Series championship standings after one win and 12 top-15 finishes.
Reed on Darlington
“Darlington is probably one of the coolest places I have ever been to – it’s so fast and Turns 1 and 2 are so different from 3 and 4. It’s so easy to tear stuff up in the beginning of the race so it’s really important for the driver to stay mentally sharp and not make the slightest mistake. I learned throughout the entire weekend last year and did pretty well so I’m really excited to get back there this weekend and show off our throwback No. 16 Lilly Diabetes American Diabetes Association Ford Mustang.”
Tune-in
Reed and the rest of the NASCAR XFINITY Series will take the green flag from Darlington Raceway on Saturday, September 5 at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC and MRN.
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: @LillyDiab
