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Reed Gambles And Wins Wild Xfinity Race At Daytona

Ryan Reed races Elliott Sadler during the NASCAR XFINITY Series PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway. [Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images]

Ryan Reed races Elliott Sadler during the NASCAR XFINITY Series PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway.   [Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images]

By Joe Jennings

DAYTONA BEACH – Ryan Reed gambled on track position as the Powershares QQQ went into overtime, and it paid off as he powered his Lilly Diabetes Ford to victory for the second time at Daytona.

“I’ve had so many people come up and tell me how amazing my first win (Daytona) was,” said Reed.  “A lot of people know that I have Type 1 Diabetes and to see what (that) win meant to so many people drove me to get back to victory lane.  Having Lilly Diabetes stay with us, our fourth year, that’s something that a lot of people can’t say that they have the privilege to do. Thank you to them.

“What an amazing sponsor. Ford, Jack (Roush) American Diabetes Association, stood by me when things weren’t the greatest. But the end last year I said that we were going to go to Speedweeks and here we are. We’re locked into the Chase. I hope everyone at home watched it on their Xfinity X1. That right there was fun.”

Regarding the final laps, the winner commented, “I couldn’t tell if I was clear. I ran the Cup race last year at Talladega and I learned so much from that and I tried to apply everything I learned and take a chance. It was a gamble but if you’re going to gamble, you might as gamble on a win.

“Man, this is what we work for. To see these guys this fired up in victory lane. I know how many hours they have put in. You want to put the race car that deserves to be in victory lane, in victory lane.”

Addressing his spin with 15 laps to go, he added, “We didn’t get too much damage but we still had to get all the grass out of the grille, and they busted their butts and never quit. I told them before the race that we started on the front and may go to the back row and might to back and forth all day long but as long as we stay at it we will have a shot at it.”

The 23-year old winner now has two wins in 106 Xfinity Series starts

The California led four times for a total of nine laps, including the final two circuits when he passed Brad Keselowski.

Throughout the 124 laps, hard-driving and wrecks were commonplace.  21 cars were involved with a wreck on lap 24, and the race was red flagged for track clean-up.  Six laps later, 13 cars wrecked to stop the race again.

In total, 10 caution flags consumed 42 laps.

Kasey Kahne finished second .219 seconds behind in a JR Motorsports Chevrolet with Austin Dillon nipping at his heels in a RCR Chevrolet.

Keselowski took fourth with Brendan Gaughan fifth.

Sixth through 10th places went to Scott Lagasee Jr., Joey Gase, Garrett Smithley, William Byron and Harrison Rhodes.

Byron was the highest finishing rookie.

Elliott Sadler dominated much of the race until he got wrecked out on the 105th lap.  He led 40 rounds but was scored 21st.

 

 

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