Ryan Reed turned what could have been a bad day into a solid run Saturday at Phoenix International Raceway. Reed started the race 11th in his No. 16 Lilly Diabetes Ford Mustang, but a tight handling condition plagued him the entire 200-lap race. Reed was able to survive multiple cautions and a red flag in the closing laps to earn an 11th-place finish.
“It was an up and down day,” said Reed after the race. “Just struggled getting the balance on this thing. It seemed we could start as free as we wanted to but eventually would get way too tight. We just have to look at it and figure out what we can do better. I didn’t do a very good start on restarts most of the afternoon. I’ve got to get better there. Not a terrible day. I will take 11th on one of our worst days. That is what we have to look at. A bad day for us before was 16th or 17th and a bad day today was 11th. To me, that is progress. Even if it isn’t your best run.”
Reed started and ended the opening 60-lap stage in the 11th position. The No. 16 Lilly Diabetes Ford Mustang was a little tight in the center and free on exit. Four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment were the changes he received before kicking off the second 60-lap stage.
The No. 16 started off the second stage of the race a little loose, but quickly the tight handling returned. Despite the challenges Reed closed out stage two 11th before pitting for additional adjustments prior to the final stage of the race.
Reed worked his way forward in the opening laps of the final stage, cracking the top 10, before the tight handling condition returned and cost him some positions on the track. The team serviced Reed with different chassis adjustments in an effort to remedy the handling condition, but nothing seemed to be what he needed.
Reed took the final green flag restart 11th with four laps to go and maintained his position to cross the finish line 11th.
The XFINITY Series concludes the West coast swing on Saturday, March 25th at Auto Club Speedway.
RFR PR
