Ryan Reed, the driver of the #16 Lilly Diabetes Ford, stands in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR XFINITY Series “Use Your Melon. Drive Sober 200” at Dover International Speedway on September 29, 2017, in Dover, Delaware. Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images

At the moment, Ryan Reed is clinging onto the final transfer spot to the NASCAR XFINITY Series Playoffs Round of 8.

The 24-year-old Californian sits two points above ninth-place Brendan Gaughan for advancement heading into Saturday’s Drive for the Cure 300 Presented by Blue Cross and Blues Shield of North Carolina cutoff race at Charlotte Motor Speedway (3 pm ET on NBCSN).

Reed finished tenth in the XFINITY Playoffs opener at Kentucky and 16th last week at Dover. In eight career starts at Charlotte, he owns a high finish of 11th and an average showing of 13.9.

Reed advanced to the Round of 8 last season, placing sixth in the final championship standings.

“Charlotte is obviously a huge race for us,” Reed said. “Being a cutoff race and currently only being two points (ahead), it is super important to be fast and not make any mistakes. Charlotte is a good track for us and another 1.5-mile track, and our 1.5-mile program is where we are the strongest.”