Dore Chaponick Rotax Grand Nationals Preview

Florida native looks to score well in first US Rotax Grand Nationals as a Rotax Junior driver

September 14, 2009

Miami, FL - Dore Chaponick Jr, a native of Miami, Florida, is primed to take on the best Junior Rotax pilots in the United States, vying for a spot on Team USA and a shot at the Rotax Grand Finals in Egypt. The Alonso Kart pilot has been enjoying a productive rookie season in the Rotax Junior Max class and is looking to make the most of his experience at the US Rotax Grand Nationals (USRGN) this coming weekend at the Oklahoma Motorsports Complex. Chaponick was on hand for the 2008 USRGN held at USA International Raceway in Shawano, WI, competing in the Rotax Mini Max class and understands what it takes to run the Grand Nationals.

Chaponick started the 2009 campaign in Rotax Mini Max class in the Florida Winter Tour running at the front at each round. Dore Jr made the move to Junior Max after the winter tour and has raced in Florida in the Rmax Challenge Summer Series at Homestead Karting along with testing at several venues.

"The season has been good so far and I am really happy with my FA Kart program and the DFR team," states Chaponick. "Our focus has been on winning at the Rotax Grand Nationals and I am glad it’s finally here."

Since joining the DeFrancesco Racing Team just prior to the 2009 summer season, Chaponick has been building speed and racking up podiums enroute to the big show at OMC. The team has been gathering important test data and feels they have a package to win. Proof came with back-to-back podiums at the RMax Challenge Summer Shoot held at OMC in early August.

Entered in the Rotax Junior class under the DFR banner aboard a Supertune FA Kart, Chaponick looked to make a his mark early. The weekend started out very well for the young Miami pilot after a solid day of testing, he posted the fastest time in Saturday qualifying and would sit on the pole for the pre-final. Contact during the heat would push Dore Jr back in the field and he managed to climb back to twentieth at the checkered. The final was filled with loads of action and while trying to make a run at the leaders from his sixth row starting spot, Chaponick ran out of time and crossed the finish line to take third place and a second straight podium.

Returning Sunday morning, Chaponick placed his FA Kart fourth in timed qualifying. A tough start bounced him back to fifth rounding lap one in the pre-final, but by lap three Chaponick had charged back up to second. Pacing the leader for the next two laps, Chaponick slid into the lead on lap six, scoring the prefinal victory and placing himself on the pole for the final. The final would prove to be a battle as the positions at the front changed with every lap. The last lap drag race to finish didn’t involve Dore Jr, as he had to settle for third, less than half a second behind the winner.

"I am very excited about heading back to OMC for the Rotax Grand Nationals," comments Chaponick. "We had a good run there and I know we have the package to win this weekend. It will be a good race for sure."

Next up for the Miami driver will see Chaponick traveling to Oklahoma for the US Rotax Grand Nationals on September 16-19.