Reed wins hectic Xfinity opener
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Ryan Reed earned the second NASCAR Xfinity Series victory of his career — both at Daytona International Speedway — by winning the wreck-filled season-opener Saturday.
Reed held off Austin Dillon and Kasey Kahne in a two-lap overtime shootout to win in a Ford for Roush Fenway Racing. Reed’s only other career victory came in the 2015 edition of this race, and he was celebrated then for overcoming a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes — after initially being told he would not be able to race at all — to become a winning driver.
“Man, I thought about it this morning. I’ve had so many people come up to me and tell me how amazing that last win, my first win, was for certain people,” Reed said. “Everyone knows, a lot of people know,
“Everyone knows, a lot of people know, that I have Type 1 diabetes, and to see what that win meant to people, it drove me to get back to victory lane.” — RYAN REED
that I have Type 1 diabetes, and to see what that win meant to people, it drove me to get back to victory lane.”
Roush was winless last year in both the Xfinity and Cup Series, but Reed’s victory ensures him a spot in the Xfinity Series Chase.
Kahne finished second in a Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, which had five cars in the field and a rough day because of all the accidents. Austin Dillon was third in a Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, and Brad Keselowski fourth in a Team Penske Ford. Scott Lagasse was sixth, the best finish for a Toyota driver.
“A race like this, you just feel good to survive,” Keselowski said.
A multi-car accident with 17 laps remaining cost Elliott Sadler the victory, but it wasn’t a total loss. Sadler, one of the JR Motorsports drivers, won the first two stages under NASCAR’s new scoring format and was in contention for the win until the accident. He wound up in the garage because his car was too damaged to be repaired on pit road and finished 24th.
The first 30-lap stage was marred by two long stoppages, including one to fix the damaged fence at Daytona. Although the segment was only 30 laps, two multi-car accidents ate up more than 47 minutes in red-flag time. When the second segment began, only 22 of 40 cars were on the lead lap, and 12 were listed as too damaged to continue the race.