CONCORD, N.C. (May 23, 2015) – Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Reed and the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes American Diabetes Association team finished 12th on Saturday after starting in the 10th position at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“I’m really proud of Seth (Barbour) and the entire team for making adjustments throughout the race to make the car better,” said Reed. “We were wrecking loose at the beginning of the race and by the end we were in contention for a top-10, just didn’t have the time to make it up to the front. I’m excited for the improvements we’ve made so far this season and look forward to putting the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes American Diabetes Association Ford Mustang back on the track in Dover.”
Reed started the 200-lap event from the 10th position after making it through all rounds of knockout qualifying on Saturday morning. After taking the green flag on the 1.5-mile oval, Reed immediately reported that the car was loose and dropped back to the 16th position.
The team’s first opportunity to make adjustments to the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes American Diabetes Association Ford Mustang was under caution on Lap 50. Crew Chief Seth Barbour called for four tires, a track bar adjustment and wedge adjustment to correct the loose conditions. Reed restarted in the 17th position when the field went back to green on Lap 56.
By Lap 75, Reed was running in the 19th position and reported the car had no rear grip and was tight in the center. The team’s next opportunity to make adjustments was on Lap 100 where they made a wedge adjustment and gave Reed four fresh tires.
The caution flag flew soon after the pit stop, which gave the team an opportunity to make more adjustments. Reed said that the last adjustment made the car better and asked for more of the same to improve the lateral grip of the car. The team gained two spots on pit road, putting Reed in the 14th position for the restart on Lap 117.
Soon after the restart, Reed reported that the forward drive of the car was better but it was still too tight in the center. Reed’s lap times continued to improve as the run progressed, beating those of drivers running in the top-10.
The final caution flag flew on Lap 158 as Reed ran in the 12th position. Reed reported that the car became tighter throughout the run. Barbour instructed the team to make a track bar and air pressure adjustment and to clean the debris off the grille of the car.
The field saw the green flag for the last time on Lap 166. Reed restarted in the 12th position and would maintain that position for the remainder of the race.
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, May 30 at Dover International 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.
