This Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) race at Dover International Speedway marks a milestone for Roush Fenway Racing’s Ryan Reed. Reed, driver of the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes/American Diabetes Association Ford Mustang, will make his 100th start in the NXS.
“One hundred races in the NASCAR XFINITY Series is an awesome milestone,” said Reed. “I’m so thankful to everyone at Roush Fenway that has really helped to shape my career. I’m fortunate to have a great team and great partners in Lilly Diabetes and the American Diabetes Association that have made this all a reality.”
Reed made his XFINITY debut with Roush Fenway in 2013 at Richmond International Raceway (RIR). The young driver would earn a 16th-place finish in his first start. Driving the No. 16 Ford Mustang, Reed would go on to make five additional starts in 2013, with his best finish of ninth coming in the fall at RIR.
The following year, Reed competed in his first fulltime NXS season in the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes/American Diabetes Association Ford. The rookie led a total of 29 laps that season, earning his best finish of fourth at Daytona International Speedway (DIS) in July. Reed finished ninth in the NXS driver point standings in his rookie campaign.
2015 started with a bang, as Reed led 14 laps in the season-opening event at DIS to earn his first career NXS victory.
After climbing out of the car, Reed said, “This is for … every kid who gets diagnosed with diabetes, or anything, that says you can’t do something, just go out there and overcome it and do it and win. Do the best you can. This is unreal. It hasn’t even soaked in yet.”
On the cusp of his 100th NXS start, Reed also approaches another milestone – his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) start. Announced earlier this week, Reed will attempt to qualify for the NSCS event at Talladega Superspeedway later this season. Reed will pilot the No. 99 Lilly Diabetes/American Diabetes Association Ford.
To date this NXS season, Reed has one top-five and five top-10 finishes and has led a total of eight laps.
The NASCAR XFINITY Series will take the green flag from the Monster Mile on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Reed enters the race fourth in the NXS Chase grid.
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