DORE CHAPONICK WINS AT FLORIDA WINTER TOUR FINALE

Floridian karting pilot earns first victory of 2010 season in Ocala

March 31, 2010

Miami, FL - Thirteen year-old Dore Chaponick Jr. wrapped up his 2010 campaign of the Florida Winter Tour in fine fashion, earning a dominant victory in the Formula IAME Junior class. He also earned a pole position and a pre-final victory on the weekend. Contending in the final weekend of the FWT, held at the Ocala Gran Prix in northern Florida, his results were very well deserved after many disappointments in the first two rounds.

Entering the weekend, Dore stood fourth in the IAME Junior class point standings, and was looking to regain some momentum and return to the top three after a rough outing in West Palm Beach. Using the previous Rotax weekend as preparation, Dore could be found near the top of time sheets during practice, and on Saturday qualifying, posted the third best time. Fine tuning the kart and saving his tires for the final, Dore completed the pre-final in third. A good start helped him move into second on the first lap and hot on the heels of the leader. Making his move to the lead early on lap two, Dore took control. Fighting off any battle that arose, and maintaining his speedy pace, Dore set his fastest lap of the race on lap eighteen, as he cruised to a five second victory.

"The kart was perfect," exclaimed the young Chaponick following his victory. "My mechanic Mike did a great job setting up the kart for the final. I feels great to finally get a win, after coming so close so many times this year."

Returning the track Sunday morning, Dore continued where he left off, as he set the fastest time in qualifying. With a legitimate shot at the title still available, Dore set out to earn as many points as possible, and drove away with the pre-final, to set him on the pole position for the final. However, a severe weather warning put all on-track events on hold for over two hours. Heavy rains hit the track, and when the warning cleared, Dore’s class was the first on track under wet conditions. Dodging puddles on the opening lap, Dore slid into third on the opening lap. Working into second rounding lap two, he began his pursuit on the leader. However, an attempt at the lead on lap three resulted in a spin, and Dore falling back to fifth place. Driving with a little chip on his shoulder for the remainder of the race, he charged back to third place to step on the podium and an eventual third place in the overall point standings.

"We are very proud of Dore," said Dore’s parents (mother Evelyn and father Dore Sr.), following the podium ceremonies. "He has shown lots of improvement throughout the entire Florida Winter Tour, and for him to win on Saturday and finish third in the overall championship is awesome."

Also in the month on March, Dore competed in the final rounds of the CKI Florida Cup. In Homestead, Dore rebounded from a pre-final DNF, to finish on the podium in round five, and finished just off the podium in the overall point standings in fourth place.

With the Florida Winter Tour and CKI Florida cup now complete, Dore will travel with the DFR FA Kart Racing Team for the 2010 season to events such as the Rotax Pan American Challenge, US Rotax Summer Shootout, US Rotax Grand Nationals, WSK North American Series and more.

Dore Chaponick Jr. is currently 13 years old and competes for the DFR Alonso Kart Racing Team. He is supported by: Quality Air Contractors, Tax Management Services, Autosports Media Group as well as his Mother and Father in pursuit of a professional racing career. Dore was the 2008 Florida Winter Tour Mini Max Champion.

Pan American Challenge Finale
September 22-25, 2011
New Castle Motorsports Park
New Castle, Indiana

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