(Feb. 1, 2001) The Food 4 Less transporter left the Reed Motorsports shop in Bakersfield Thursday afternoon headed to Phoenix International Raceway filled with more equipment than Reed has ever taken to a track since he has been racing. Even the transporter is a new addition to the team. The contents included the 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix which Reed ran in five Winston West events last year, along with a 2000 model recently purchased from Joe Gibbs Racing. “The transporter is a tremendous upgrade for the quality image of our team”, said Reed. “I really appreciate the generosity of Jim and Gail Sims”. JH Sims Trucking Company, Inc. is providing Reed’s team with the transporter.
After the completion of a recent test session at PIR on January 22nd, Reed and his crew are full of optimism for the start of the 2001 season. “We were pretty fast in some long runs we made with the new car”, said Reed. “We know the fast way around the desert mile, but we just need to make it to the checkered flag without having any trouble”. Reed qualified on the pole for the 1999 Featherlite Southwest Series event during the Winston Cup weekend and qualified fourth last year in the Copper World Classic. “Mechanical problems and crashes have taken us out of contention the last three times we’ve been there”, said Reed. This weekend will not be the first time Reed has driven a heavier car in Phoenix. In 1990 he qualified 33rd for the Checker 500 Winston Cup race back when the Winston West drivers ran with the stars from the Southeast. He also qualified for the “Cup” race the following year with a 36th place starting position. “I was only 21 at the time”, said Reed. “We didn’t truly realize what we had accomplished until many years later”.
Race fans will recognize the yellow and black paint scheme, which has adorned Reed’s cars for the past four years, but there will be a different name on the hood. Since his sponsor is not affiliated with the Food 4 Less stores in the Phoenix area, Reed will carry the Fry’s logo on the hood this weekend. Fry’s, a division of Kroger, operates many locations in Arizona and has a distribution center on 99th Avenue not far from the track. The Food 4 Less logo will remain on the rear quarter panels. New sponsor logos on Reed’s cars this year will include Wilwood brakes and Mechanix Wear. “We really appreciate the additional product support we have received this year”, said Reed. “I also want to thank Dick Shepherd at H&S Paint and Body for helping us with the paint”.
With quality equipment and a crew that has been practicing pit stops twice weekly for the last six weeks, Reed hopes the winter preparation will equal a great result on Sunday afternoon at Phoenix International Raceway.
For more information on Food 4 Less and Reed Motorsports, check out their web sites at www.food4less1.com and www.markreed.com.
