11/14/2015
Reed Finishes 23rd at Phoenix after Blown Tire
AVONDALE, Ariz. (November 14, 2015) – Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Reed and the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes American Diabetes Association team finished 23rd on Saturday at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) after a blown tire on Lap 100 caused significant damage to the right-side of the car.
“While that was not how we should have ended that race, I’m extremely happy with the car we had at the start of the race and the hard work the team put in,” said Reed. “We struggled all weekend with the handling and the team really pulled together to make it better. We were really good when the race started but just had unfortunate luck with the blown tire. We will go to Homestead next weekend ready to finish up the season strong.”
Reed started the 200-lap event from the 20th position and had gained four positions by the first caution on Lap 17. He reported to the team that the car was really decent and he was pretty happy with the handling.
Reed restarted in the 15th position on Lap 21 and was up to 14th by Lap 57. He reported to crew chief Chad Norris that he needed help getting the car to turn in the center of the turns. The team brought Reed down pit road on Lap 63 for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. Reed restarted 16th on Lap 66.
For the next 30 laps, Reed held on to the 16th position and was working his way through the field. Coming to the line to signal the halfway point of the race, Reed hit the wall in Turn 4 after blowing a right-front tire. He immediately came to the attention of the crew to change tires and assess the damage.
By the time Reed was able to return to the racetrack, he was three laps down and scored in the 28th position. He maintained that position until the next caution on Lap 112. He reported to the team that the changing track conditions were causing his No. 16 Ford Mustang to tighten up.
The team brought Reed down pit road under caution on Lap 114 to continue damage repair on the right side of the car and to the splitter. The team made another stop two laps later under the caution period for fuel and to continue to fix the damage. Reed restarted 27th on Lap 120.
With 50 laps to go, Reed ran 26th and was told by Norris he was good on fuel, which could help him gain some positions on the finish.
Reed rode out the remainder of the laps in his damaged Ford Mustang, as others pitted for fuel, to salvage a 23rd-place finish on World Diabetes Day.
Reed remains 10th in the NASCAR XFINITY Series championship standings after Saturday’s 200-lap event at PIR. Reed and the rest of the NASCAR XFINITY Series will return to the track on Saturday, November 21st at Homestead Miami Speedway for the last race of the 2015 NASCAR XFINITY Series season.
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.
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