Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Reed and the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes American Diabetes Association team finished 12th on 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 14th position 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 16th just 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.
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