The NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) visited Richmond International Raceway (RIR) for the first time this season, the site of Roush Fenway Racing (RFR) driver Ryan Reed’s career debut last season. The rookie managed to one-up his season best finish, crossing the finish line in 12th in his American Diabetes Association Drive to Stop DiabetesSMpresented by Lilly Diabetes Ford Mustang.
“We had a really fast race car,” said Reed. “We pitted there and it was just an up and down night. It felt like we were passing cars every lap. It is a good thing when your car is fast enough to do that. At the end of the day, I feel we had a good solid top-10 car and we finished 12th and kept all the fenders on it.
The NNS race took the green flag under foggy conditions, after a two-plus hour rain delay. Reed started 20th based on the afternoon’s qualifying session. At the competition caution on Lap 40, Reed radioed to his crew from 18th that his car was not too bad; he just needed more front grip.
On the next long, green flag run, Reed began to work his way towards the top-15. Several drivers started to have tire issues, visiting pit road under green. On Lap 121, Reed made his way to pit road after radioing to the crew that he had a right front tire coming apart.
After returning to the track with four fresh tires, Reed again worked his way forward, climbing to 11th by the time the caution flew on Lap 151. The No. 16 Ford Mustang visited pit road twice under the caution flag, once for four tires and no adjustments, and the second time to clean rubber from in between the wheel spacer and the wheel.
Reed restarted 17th, but did not waste any time moving forward. When the checkered flag flew, Reed crossed the finish line in 12th, his best finish of the 2014 season.
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