In his first start at Darlington Raceway, a track nicknamed ‘too tough to tame’, Roush Fenway Racing’s Ryan Reed battled hard all evening in his No. 16 American Diabetes Association Drive to Stop DiabetesSM presented by Lilly Diabetes Ford Mustang, to secure a 13th-place finish in Friday night’s NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) race.
Reed rolled off 18th for the second-consecutive night race for the NNS. The 20-year-old rookie settled into the top-20 at the start of the race.
By the time the first caution flag flew on Lap 17, Reed radioed to his crew that the No. 16 Mustang was just a little too tight, but was coming to him. He visited pit road on Lap 18 for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment.
A speedy pit stop by the No. 16 crew helped Reed gain four spots, putting the Bakersfield, California native in 15th-place for the restart.
Again, Reed settled into the top-20 for the next green flag run. The team opted to bring Reed back down pit road under caution on Lap 87, taking four tires and fuel, along with a track bar adjustment and a rubber in the left rear spring.
Reed remained patient and continued to work his way through the field as the caution flag waved several times throughout the remainder of the race. By the time he crossed the finish line, the rookie was able to move into 13th-place in his first start at Darlington Raceway.
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