10/15/2016
Reed Overcame Adversity to Finish 16th at Kansas
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Oct. 15, 2016) – Despite having a mechanical issue early on in the Kansas Lottery 300, Ryan Reed drove his No. 16 Lilly Diabetes/American Diabetes Association Ford to a 16th-place finish on Saturday afternoon at Kansas Speedway. With the result, Reed and team are a mere two points shy of being in the top-four of the NASCAR XFINITY Series(NXS) Chase with two races remaining before the cut-off.
“That plug wire really put us behind from the start,” Reed stated. “I think we had about a 13th place car before everyone had troubles. With everyone having problems if we could have just been running where we needed to it would have been an easy top-10 day.
“It is frustrating to have a mechanical issue in the Chase. We definitely can’t have that happen but we battled back and to finish 16th after being three laps down at one point isn’t the end of the world. I think we have an opportunity being a few points back to make something happen. Aside from all the troubles we just have to get better to have an opportunity to move on.”
After battling a tight machine in qualifying, Reed lined up 22nd for the 200-Lap race and quickly gained six positions in the first five laps in his Lilly Diabetes/American Diabetes Association Ford.
On lap 20, Reed radioed to crew chief Phil Gould that something was amiss with the engine but all of his pressures seemed to be fine.
A much needed caution was displayed on lap 57 allowing the No. 16 team to diagnose the mechanical issue. After looking under the hood, they repaired a loose plug wire assuring Reed that the issue was repaired. Unfortunately, the issue cost Reed to go down three laps to the leaders.
With the race filled with caution flags, the Roush Fenway Racing driver patiently maneuvered his Ford up through the field and was scored in the top-20 by mid-race.
On lap 164, a couple of cars tangled causing slight damage to the Lilly Diabetes/American Diabetes Association Ford as Reed was avoiding the spinning cars. The team worked feverishly under a series of yellow flag pit stops to repair the machine.
When the final green flag waved on lap 187, Reed maintained his position taking the checkered flag in the 16th position in the first race of the NXS Chase Round of Eight.
About the Drive to Stop Diabetes
The Drive to Stop Diabetes campaign strives to educate people about living well with diabetes. The campaign encourages the millions of Americans who have diabetes to talk about it with their doctor, family, and friends and to actively manage their health.
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.
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. Founded in 1940, the Association’s mission is 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 (800-342-2383) or visit diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.
