DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 22, 2015) – Ryan Reed raced down Brad Keselowski in the final turns of Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) race at Daytona International Speedway (DIS), taking the lead and crossing the checkered in a nail-biting finish to earn his first career NASCAR victory in his 40th start.
An excellent handling car combined with help from teammates in the draft placed the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes/American Diabetes Association Ford Mustang in the position to make the move for the checkered flag in the 120-lap Alert Today Florida 300.
“Four years ago I was diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes and I thought I would never drive a racecar again,” said Reed. “I can’t describe the emotions and the feelings that go into the first win – so much hard work and sacrifice from all my guys – Seth (Barbour) and Jack (Roush) and everyone who stood behind me including Lilly Diabetes and the American Diabetes Association. We got shuffled back with about three to go and I thought our race for the win was over but when the wreck broke out on the last lap, (Brad) Keselowski was left out on an island and we got a massive run and set it up perfectly.”
Reed started the 300-mile event from the eighth spot and maintained the position until Lap 39 when the team pitted under the green flag for four tires and fuel, moving them up to the fourth position. By the second caution on Lap 78, the team pitted again for only right-side tires and two cans of fuel, leaving the pits in the fifth position.
Working his way through the pack, Reed took the lead on Lap 88. He would lead twice for a total of 14 laps in the race. The red flag was displayed with 27 laps to go, leaving Reed at the head of the field. He reported to crew chief Seth Barbour that the car handled extremely well when it was out front and the team decided not to pit.
Once going back to green, a quick debris caution on Lap 102 was followed by another red flag with seven laps to go. Upon resuming the race in the second position, Reed quickly lost traction in the pack and fell several positions. Reed believed he had lost his chance to regain the lead until trouble in front of him on the final lap put him in a position to chase down leader Keselowski. A nifty move to the inside and a timely push from Roush Fenway teammate Chris Buescher allowed Reed to chase down the leader and move on to the victory.
Reed’s victory is the first for Roush Fenway Racing in the XFINITY Series and the first for series sponsor, XFINITY. His win marks the fifth time a driver has claimed their first victory at DIS.
Reed leaves Daytona as the as points leader in the NASCAR XFINITY series with a lead of four points over teammate Buescher.
Reed and the NXS return to action next weekend at Atlanta Motor 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. Founded in 1940, our 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 (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.
