DORE CHAPONICK 2009 MID SEASON REPORT

Florida native enjoys success all over North America in summer months leading up to the US Rotax Grand Nationals

September 4, 2009

Miami, FL - Over the past few months, Dore Chaponick Jr. has been a busy racer. Since joining the DeFrancesco Racing Team just prior to the 2009 summer season, Chaponick has traveled all over North America, competing in some of the largest competitions USA and Canada have to offer including the Rotax Summer Shootout in Oklahoma and the ASN Canadian Karting Nationals in Toronto. Always running up front and showing the potential to win, Dore will be one to watch at the US Rotax Grand Nationals (USRGN) later this fall.

In preparation for the USRGN, Dore traveled with his team to the US Rotax Summer Shootout held at Oklahoma Motorsports Complex in Norman, Oklahoma, entered in the Rotax Junior class under the DFR banner a board a Supertune FA Kart. The weekend started out very well for the young Miami pilot as after a solid day of testing, posting the fastest time in Saturday qualifying and sitting on the pole for the pre-final. However, disaster struck on lap ten of the pre-final when Dore was forced off track and after the dust settled, resumed in twenty-third position. Finishing the heat, Dore managed to climb back to twentieth at the checkered.

Dore worked closely with his tuner Mike Contreras to setup his kart to benefit him early in the final and hopefully give him a chance to get as close to the leaders as possible. The gamble worked extremely well as by the end of lap two, Dore had avoided all carnage and climbed up to seventh position! From there, Dore slowly worked his way up the timing charts and by lap eighteen found himself in third place, and setting the fastest lap of the race in the process. Although trying to make a run at the leaders, he ran out of time and crossed the finish line on the podium in third place.

"My tuner Mike and I had the kart really fast," explains Chaponick. "The accident in the pre-final really hurt our chances for victory on Saturday, but I was still very happy with our performance. My Supertune engine was super fast and helped me set the fastest lap of the race."

Returning Sunday morning, Dore placed his FA Kart fourth in qualifying. A tough start bounced him back to fifth rounding lap one in the pre-final, but by lap three Dore had charged back up to second. Hounding the leader for the next two laps Dore slid into the lead on lap six and never looked back, scoring the heat victory and placing himself on the pole for the final.

Dore found himself right in the middle of the weekend’s best race as right from lap one; he along with two other’s battled for the entire twenty-five lap final. Jumping to the lead from the start, Dore never fell further than third in the order throughout the entire race. The three karts traded the lead numerous times and usually more than once a lap. However the drag race to finish didn’t involve Dore, as he had to settle for third less than half a second behind the winner.

"I really wanted to win this race, we were very fast on Saturday and again on Sunday. Unfortunately it just wasn’t our day as I had to settle for another third place finish," said a disappointed Chaponick. Continuing "but now I know where I stand for the Grand Nationals in September and I cannot wait to come back.”

A few short weeks later, Dore found himself up in Toronto, Canada for the ASN Canadian National Karting Championships. Again teamed up with DFR Racing and aboard his FA Kart, he was entered in the Rotax Mini-Max class, as the age requirements are different in Canada. Joined in the class by teammate Jack West, Dore placed himself fifth in qualifying and would start each of his heats from the inside of row three.

After being disqualified for regaining his position after the commitment cone in heat one, Dore maintained his fifth spot for heats two and three and lined up sixth for pre-final. A heavy fog and wet conditions on Sunday morning changed everything for the team, but it was no challenge for Dore as he drove to a second place finish in the morning pre-final. Back to a dry setup for the final, Dore drove a clean race but in the end had to settle for a fourth place finish.

"The track in Canada was very narrow and challenging but I loved it. The changing weather on Sunday also added to the excitement," explained Dore following the event. "It was very fun to travel to Canada with my new team and I would like the come back again."

Also between the Summer Shootout and the Canadian Nationals, Dore had the opportunity to complete the Skip Barber Advanced Formula Car School at Road Atlanta. Building from his previous time in the car he showed steady improvement throughout the weekend. Although his day ended with a hard crash, Dore quickly removed himself out of the car and wanted to jump right back in, showing his true desire to drive a racecar.

Next up for the Miami driver will see Dore testing at Homestead-Miami Speedway before traveling to Oklahoma for the US Rotax Grand Nationals on September 16-19.