Ryan Reed – Phoenix Advance
Team: No. 16 Lilly Diabetes American Diabetes Association Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Chad Norris
Twitter: @driverRyanReed, @Reed16Team and @RoushFenway
ADVANCE NOTES
Reed at Phoenix International Raceway
Reed has competed at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) four times in the NASCAR XFIINTY Series. In March, Reed finished 13th after starting 17th. In 2014, he earned 22nd- and 19th-place finishes in the spring and fall races, respectively. One of Reed’s first NASCAR XFIINITY Series starts came at PIR in 2013, where he finished 15th.
Riding with Ryan
American Diabetes Association® Youth Ambassador Nick Klaus will ‘ride’ along with Reed during Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series race at PIR. The Peoria, Ariz. native will have his name featured on a decal above the passenger-side door on the No. 16 Ford Mustang. Klaus was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2010 at the age of eight. Now 13 years old, he has not let diabetes slow him down. He has been playing baseball since the age of five and currently plays third base on his local junior/senior team. Klaus also has an interest in motorsports. He watches races with his dad, who shares his love of race cars and motorcycles.
On the car
The No. 16 Lilly Diabetes American Diabetes Association Ford Mustang will sport a paint scheme inspired by the Arizona flag and the number of people living with diabetes in the state of Arizona. The gray stars on the car represent the number of people living in Arizona while the red stars represent the 13.5 percent of the population of Arizona who live with diabetes, diagnosed and undiagnosed.
Reed, Lilly Diabetes and the American Diabetes Association are working to spread awareness and provide support for those diagnosed and the estimated 172,000 undiagnosed diabetes patients in Arizona. In 2012, diabetes costs were estimated at $4.9 billion in Arizona and those living with diabetes have medical expenses approximately 2.3 times higher than those without diabetes.
On the crew
Reed’s No. 16 pit crew members will feature names of the Lilly Diabetes My Diabetes Pit Crew Sweepstakes winners on the back of their firesuits this weekend. To emphasize the importance of a support system in diabetes management, Lilly Diabetes and Reed launched the My Diabetes Pit Crew Sweepstakes in July to encourage people with diabetes to acknowledge the people who have supported them throughout their diabetes journey.
Winners were chosen at random to be honorary members of Reed’s pit crew during the three NASCAR XFINITY Series races in November during American Diabetes Month. In addition to having their names displayed on the firesuits, winners also had the chance to submit a photo to appear on the team’s pit wall banner. This weekend, Michael Adams of Stockbridge, Ga.; Amber Clour of Oklahoma City; Phil Larson of Las Vegas; and Sherrie Holdaway of S. Payson, Utah will be featured as honorary pit crew members for the No. 16 team.
American Diabetes Month
November is American Diabetes Association’s American Diabetes Month (ADM). ADM is part of an effort by the American Diabetes Association to spread awareness of the disease, featuring programs designed to focus the nation’s attention on the issues surrounding diabetes and the many people who are impacted by the disease. Reed, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2011, will run an ADM decal on the C-post of his No. 16 Ford Mustang to help in spreading awareness throughout the month of November.
Texas Recap
Reed finished 15th at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday after starting 17th. Wet conditions on the track cancelled group qualifying, lining the field up for the start of the race by Friday’s practice speeds. The team adjusted on the No. 16 Ford Mustang throughout the race to correct a loose-handling racecar, allowing Reed to cross the finish line in the 15th position.
2015 Season
Reed is currently 10th in the NASCAR XFINITY Series championship standings after one win and 17 top-15 finishes.
Reed on Phoenix
“I enjoy Phoenix because it’s close to home so I get to hang out with a lot of friends and family and also while it’s not a traditional short track, it is close to short-track racing and puts a lot of pressure on the driver because it’s impossible to get the car perfect here. You are always going to be struggling at one end of the race track so it leaves room for the driver to make up for it. I feel like the track is widening back out after the repave a few years ago and I’m excited to see how it drives this weekend.”
Tune-in
Reed and the rest of the NASCAR XFINITY Series will take the green flag from PIR on Saturday, November 14th at 4 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network and MRN.
About The American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. For the past 75 years, our mission has been to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.
About Lilly Diabetes
Lilly has been a global leader in diabetes care since 1923, when we introduced the world’s first commercial insulin. Today we are building upon this heritage by working to meet the diverse needs of people with diabetes and those who care for them. Through research and collaboration, a broad and growing product portfolio and a continued determination to provide real solutions—from medicines to support programs and more—we strive to make life better for all those affected by diabetes around the world. For more information, visit www.lillydiabetes.com or follow us on Twitter: @LillyDiabetes.
