JOLIET, Ill. (June 21, 2015) – Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Reed and the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes American Diabetes Association team finished 12thon Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway after thunderstorms on Saturday evening postponed the 200-lap event to Sunday morning.
“Overall our No. 16 Lilly Diabetes American Diabetes Association Ford Mustang was fast today,” said Reed. “I feel like we had a top-10 car but got stuck back in traffic and didn’t run well in dirty air. I was much better when we were up towards the front so we just need to work on getting a good starting position and staying up there all day. We will work on some things during the off-week and come back strong at Daytona to hopefully sweep the season there.”
Reed started the Owens Corning AttiCat 300 from the 14th position on Sunday having already won the night before at the track. Reed was victorious in the ARCA Racing Series Scott 150 in the No. 58 Lilly Diabetes Lira Motorsports Ford Fusion on Saturday evening.
After taking the green flag in his No. 16 Ford Mustang, Reed immediately reported that the car was very loose. The team waited until the Lap 25 competition caution to bring Reed down pit road and make track bar, air pressure and spring rubber adjustments.
Reed restarted 18th on the Lap 31 restart and reported the car was better, but still a little loose on exit of the turns. He made his way up to the 14thposition by Lap 70 and reported that the car was now tight.
The team brought Reed down pit road on Lap 74 for the only green-flag pit stop of the day. They made a wedge adjustment to correct the handling of the racecar and sent Reed on his way.
Soon after the green-flag stop, the caution flag flew and Reed was able to take the wave around to get back on the lead lap. Reed continued to report that the car’s handling was loose.
The team brought Reed back down pit road under the Lap 96 caution period for a track bar adjustment and four fresh tires. Reed restarted in 16thjust past the halfway point in the race. He maintained a top-15 position and continued to report loose conditions on the next green-flag-run.
The team made another pit stop under the Lap 127 caution period for a wedge adjustment and four tires. The pit crew’s quick work gained Reed two positions on pit road, putting him in the 13th position for the restart. During the following green-flag-run, Reed reported that the car was tight in the center and loose out of the turns.
When the caution flag was displayed on Lap 150, crew chief Seth Barbour decided to bring the 21-year-old Bakersfield, Calif. native down pit road for scuffed tires. Reed restarted in the ninth position on the following restart.
Reed maintained the 13th position until the Lap 177 caution flag. The team made a wedge adjustment and put four new tires on the No. 16 Ford to position Reed 17th for the restart.
The caution flag flew for the last time on Lap 183. Reed had made his way up to the 13th position and restarted there with 12 laps to go. In the final laps, Reed was able to gain one additional spot, finishing 12th at Chicagoland.
Reed falls to ninth in the NASCAR XFINITY Series championship standings after Sunday’s race. Reed and the No. 16 team return to the track on Saturday, July 4 at Daytona International Speedway where Reed won his first XFINITY Series race in February.
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.
