Budds Creek: Dwayne Rice race report

BUDDS CREEK, Md. - Since joining the Moser Engineering team last week, Dwayne Rice has been steady knocking down every obstacle in his path. The 31-year old, excavation company owner was on a mission to do just that, but a familiar hurdle caused him to stumble in the first round at the President's Cup Nationals in Budds Creek, Md.

It was all headed in the right direction when he made his first qualifying run on Friday.

Rice was in the first pair of Pro Stockers to assault the racing surface known for its partiality to big-inch Pro Stockers. The former Modified eliminator standout made an impressive shot right off of the bat with a 6.612, 210.77. Rice claimed the second quickest elapsed time. He elected to not run the second session.

Rice continues to find his groove with the new Grand-am. He nearly duplicated his Friday best, by blasting out a 6.616/211.03. The 31-year old, excavation company owner continued to hone in his consistency with a 6.626/209.82 in the evening session. Rice laid claim to the fourth spot and was paired against Tony Fox in the first round.

In the first round, Fox was the quicker of the two off of the line, and despite Rice's quicker 6.633, 210.34, he couldn't snare the victory.

-ihra-