Roush Fenway Racing rookie of the year contender Ryan Reed and the No. 16 American Diabetes Association Drive to Stop DiabetesSM presented by Lilly Diabetes team utilized a strong pit strategy to overcome an early deficit and finish inside the top-15 for the 14th time this season, crossing the line in 12th.
“It was an interesting strategy day,” said Reed. “I felt like we were good at points, but still need to get better. I think we are getting better. Seth [Barbour] and I are learning. We aren’t learning as fast as I would like, but that is racing. Sometimes it takes longer than you want.”
Reed lined up 14th to start the 200-Lap, 300-Mile NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) race at Kansas Speedway. To start the race, Reed dropped back a few positions, settling inside the top-20. The young driver informed the team that his Mustang was too loose.
On the first pit stop of the day, Crew Chief Seth Barbour called for right side tires and a track bar adjustment to try and help the loose handling condition. On the following runs, Reed maintained his position in 21st, radioing to the team that his car ran well alone, but was too free in traffic.
A two tire pit stop on Lap 75 propelled the team to 12th. Reed held tight in the top-15 until the race passed the halfway point. On Lap 132, as green flag pit stops cycled through, Reed visited pit road for four tires and fuel. Just a few laps later the caution flew, before green flag pit stops had cycled all the way through, trapping Reed two laps behind the leaders.
Barbour opted to take the wave around to gain back one of the two laps Reed had lost to the leaders under green flag stops. A timely caution following the wave around put Reed back onto the lead lap.
Reed maintained his spot in 12th for the remainder of the race, ultimately crossing the finish line in that position. With the result, Reed remains ninth in the NNS point standings.
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