FONTANA >> Ryan Reed has won on NASCAR’s biggest race track: Daytona International Speedway.
The 23-year-old from Bakersfield has done it twice in the Xfinity Series, including this year’s season opener. But it’s the only track among NASCAR’s top two series in which he has been victorious.
A win in Saturday’s Service King 300 at Auto Club Speedway would be exceptional. A win where Reed watched his father, Mark, race would make it stupendous.
The Roush Fenway Racing driver, in his fourth year in the Xfinity Series, missed a big opportunity to get that win on the 2-mile oval last year.
“If there was one race I could redo in my career, it would be that one,” he said. “We had a pit penalty that dropped us a lap down and we couldn’t overcome it. I felt like we had Top 10 for sure and maybe a Top 5. It was probably the best race car I’ve ever had in my career.”
Reed finished 14th in that race, one lap down, en route to a sixth-place finish in the series.
He heads into Saturday’s qualifying and 150-lap race third in series points, 23 points behind Elliott Sadler and 12 behind second-place William Byron, both JR Motorsports drivers.
“If it’s not my favorite track, it’s one of my favorite tracks,” Reed said. “The style of racing here is where you run all the way down by the grass or all the way up the boards or wall and it is a lot fun.
“It changes throughout the run. Some of my favorite race tracks are where you start your run on the bottom and move up or search for a groove all day. It makes race tracks really fun. It’s fun to watch throughout the run guys that are dominant early and fade in the later runs, which creates passing.”
It will not be an easy feat for a home track victory. Seven Monster Energy NASCAR Cup veteran drivers will compete in Saturday’s race, including Kyle Busch, who has won the race seven times.
The last time a Xfinity-only driver has won at Fontana? Hank Parker Jr. in 2001. That is 22 consecutive races won by Cup drivers.
“It’s tough to get a win in the Xfinity series,” Reed said. “We all know that with all the Cup guys a win can be few and far between, so when you do get a win, you get locked in (to the Chase) and you enjoy it.”
Reed was the 16th fastest in the two practice sessions on Friday. He brushed his Lilly Diabetes-sponsored Ford Mustang against the Turn 1 wall in the second practice session.
“When you get out for that first lap in practice you forget how gnarly the seams are and are quickly reminded,” he said.
Cup veteran Joey Logano had the best practice time, going 176.804 MPH. The top three times were all by Cup drivers.
Austin Dillon won the race last year. He was in last weekend’s Xfinity race in Phoenix, but will not race Saturday.
The victory at Daytona put Reed into the series’ Chase for the second consecutive year. He said he is now just after more victories this year.
“I do think qualifying matters here because tire management is key around this place,” he said. “If you can start out front you can manage your day a little better, conserve tires from the word go. It’s going to be big. I think qualifying is an emphasis on this place.”
The series also has stage races with the first stage complete after 35 laps and the second stage at 70 laps.
At a Glance
What: NASCAR Xfinity Series Service Repairs 300
When: Saturday, qualifying, 9:30 a.m.; race, 1 p.m.
Where: Auto Club Speedway, Fontana
TV: FS1
