02/27/2016
Reed Finishes 15th at Atlanta
HAMPTON, Ga. (February 27, 2016) – Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Reed and the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes/American Diabetes Association team finished 15th on Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) after starting 17th and showing good speed all weekend.
“I can’t thank the team enough for the hard work they put in preparing this car as well as what we did to improve it throughout the weekend,” said Reed. “We definitely had a top-10 run going before the speeding penalty and I hate that for us. I will do better and be prepared to take on Vegas next week.”
Reed started off a brisk Saturday morning at AMS with knockout-style qualifying. In the first round, Reed said the car was simply “perfect,” finishing the session 10th. The No. 16 Ford Mustang’s speed fell off a bit in the second round, ultimately scoring Reed a 17th-place start for Saturday afternoon’s 163-lap event.
After just eight laps of green-flag racing, the caution was displayed while Reed was running 16th. He reported that the car was free center-off. The team did not pit under the caution flag and restarted 15th on Lap 12.
The caution was again displayed on Lap 14 and Reed reported that the balance was starting to come to him, but an adjustment couldn’t hurt. The team pitted under caution on Lap 16 for four fresh Goodyear tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment. Reed restarted 22nd on Lap 18, as drivers who were on a different pit sequence cycled to the front.
By Lap 23, Reed had made his way up to the 11th position, his highest of the race. He reported a few laps later that he was still loose center-off.
The team had another chance to make adjustments on Lap 51 as the caution was displayed a few laps before for debris. Crew chief Phil Gould brought Reed down pit road for air pressure and track bar adjustments, putting Reed in the seventh position for the Lap 53 restart.
As the run went on, Reed settled into the 12th position and reported he was loose on exit by Lap 80. The team made a green-flag pit stop on Lap 100 from the sixth position for tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment. Reed received a speeding penalty on pit road, forcing him to come back down the pit lane and lose a lap.
Gould told Reed not to fret – timely cautions could work in their favor – he was right. The caution was displayed with 40 to go, allowing Reed to get a lap back by taking the wave around. Gould asked Reed to save fuel under the caution and to be prepared to pit if another caution should occur.
On Lap 129, the team got the caution they had been looking for. Gould brought Reed down pit road for a wedge adjustment and fresh tires. Reed restarted 16th on Lap 133 and would improve to 15th in the last 30 laps of the event.
After the second NASCAR XFINITY Series race of 2016, Reed is scored ninth in the championship standings, 19 points out of the lead. Reed and the rest of the NASCAR XFINITY Series will return to the track on Saturday, March 5th at Las Vegas 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.
