04/08/2016
Reed Finishes 14th in Texas
FORT WORTH, Texas. (April 8, 2016) – Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Reed and the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes/American Diabetes Association team finished 14th on Friday night at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) after starting 10th and fighting loose and tight-handling conditions throughout the race.
“I felt like we started off strong and then got behind on adjustments a little bit,” said Reed. “We got really, really loose the second half of the race and got behind, but it was tough because we started off really tight and then from one run to the next we went from really tight to really loose. It was just a tough night, but we’ll rebound.”
The team showed speed in both practice sessions on Friday, which carried over into qualifying on Friday afternoon. Reed progressed through all three rounds of knockout-style qualifying to score a 10th-place starting position for Friday night’s 200-lap event.
Before the field could complete a lap under green, the caution was displayed. Reed reported that the car was loose, but manageable. Reed restarted from the ninth position three laps later.
Throughout the first 35 laps, Reed reported that the car’s handling was shifting between loose and tight. By Lap 40, he said he was “losing the nose.” Crew chief Phil Gould told his driver they would help him out at their next opportunity.
A caution on Lap 43 allowed the team to work on the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes/American Diabetes Association Ford Mustang. Reed pitted on Lap 45 from the 14th positon for fresh tires and fuel. The team’s quick stop put Reed back out to restart 11th on Lap 48.
Following the restart, Reed reported that the car was loose, especially on entry into the turns. He maintained the 13th position until the third caution on Lap 77. The team pitted for four fresh tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. On the following restart, Reed rocketed his way up to the ninth position from 11th, climbing to the eighth position by Lap 90.
The next caution of the night came just before the halfway mark, on Lap 99. Reed ran in ninth and reported that the car was not handling well over the bumps on the track. The team pitted under caution for fresh tires and fuel, putting Reed in 12th for the restart on Lap 104.
By Lap 120, Reed told the team that the car was really loose and he was getting sideways into the turns. He held on to the 11th position, but dropped back to 14th by the last caution of the night on Lap 143. Gould brought his driver down pit road for tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment to help the loose condition. With 50 laps to go, Reed restarted 13th.
In the remaining 50 laps, Reed reported that he was lacking lateral grip, causing him to have trouble turning. He held his line to bring home a 14th-place finish in the sixth race of the NASCAR XFINITY Series season.
Following tonight’s race, Reed maintains the ninth position in the championship standings. Reed and the rest of the NASCAR XFINITY Series will return to the track on Saturday, April 16th at Bristol Motor Speedway.
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.
