Mid-Race Incident Relegates Reed to 31st-Place Finish at Talladega

Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Reed and the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes/American Diabetes Association team finished 31st on Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway after leading eight laps and getting caught up in an incident on Lap 83 while running 19th.  

“We had such a fast car today and really had a shot at winning,” said Reed. “It’s unfortunate we keep having this bad luck, but it’s got to end eventually. I’m so proud of the whole Roush Fenway team and what a fast No. 16 Lilly Diabetes/American Diabetes Association Ford Mustang they gave me this weekend.”

Reed started the 113-lap event from the seventh position on Saturday afternoon and had made his way up to the third spot by Lap 10. He continued to ride there until the competition caution on Lap 20, at which time he reported he was free on entry but tightening up as the run went on.

Crew chief Phil Gould made the call to bring his driver down pit road under caution on Lap 22 for right-side tires and fuel. Reed restarted fourth on Lap 25 and took the lead just laps after the restart.

Reed led the field for eight laps, maintaining the lead under the next caution on Lap 30. The team decided not to pit and restarted at the head of the field on Lap 36. Reed was shuffled back on the restart, but rebounded to the fifth position by the next caution on Lap 39.

Reed restarted from the fourth position on Lap 48 and worked the outside line with fellow Ford driver Joey Logano in hopes of moving back to the lead.

The team made a green-flag pit stop on Lap 74, taking two tires and filling up with fuel. Just a few laps after the stop, Reed was tagged from behind, sending him spinning into the safer barrier, destroying the right-front of the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes/American Diabetes Association Ford Mustang.

The team came down pit road on Lap 85 to repair damage, causing Reed to lose two laps. A few laps later, the team pitted once more to remove debris from around the left-front tire.

As the field saw several cautions before the eventual green-white-checkered, Reed maintained the 31st position, which is where he would finish at the end of the 300-mile race.

Reed is scored 10th in NASCAR XFINITY Series championship standings after today’s race at Talladega Superspeedway.  He and the rest of the NASCAR XFINITY Series are back in action on Saturday, May 14th at Dover International Speedway.

RFR PR