STRONG WEEKEND FOR DORE CHAPONICK IN NEW CASTLE

Talented junior pilot drives to podium finish at Rotax Pan-American Challenge event

June 18, 2010

Miami, FL - Dore Chaponick Jr. continues to prove that he is one of North America's best up and coming junior karters. Most recently, Chaponick traveled to New Castle Motorsports Park to contend in the second round of the 2010 Rotax Pan-American Challenge. Competing up against some of the best Rotax Junior pilots, the Miami resident drove to a second place finish in Saturday's final, while keeping in contention for victory all weekend.

Kicking off Saturday events, Dore placed his Supertune powered DFR Racing FA Kart on the outside of row two in qualifying. The events in the pre-final were somewhat similar to those of a dogfight, as the action up front was very exciting. Leading in the beginning, Dore slowly fell down the order throughout the 15-lap race, before eventually crossing in sixth place. Unfortunately, after the race, he was accessed a five-second penalty, and would be forced to start the final from the tenth position.

"The racing was wild, karts were everywhere, and people were bouncing off everyone," comments Chaponick.

Racing the final with a chip on his shoulder, Dore got a great start and within five laps around the one-mile New Castle circuit found himself in the top-five. As the halfway sign was displayed, Dore found himself engulfed in an exciting battled for second place. The battle lasted the remaining nine laps, with Chaponick getting the upper hand at the finish line, earning a second place result and a step on the podium.

"What a great race that was. So much fun," explained Chaponick. "I just wish I could have started a little higher up, I know I would have given the winner a great race."

Sunday's qualifying session for Chaponick didn't go quite as well as he hoped, posting only the eighth quickest time. Working his way through traffic and another wild pre-final, Dore was able to set himself up to start in the fourth position for the final.

After a few false starts, Dore was elevated to the front row for the start of the final. Getting a great start into turn one, Dore controlled the field for the opening fourteen laps. From there, the final five laps were intense, as he found himself in the middle of some of the best racing on the weekend. The leaders swapped the top position multiple times per lap, with Dore eventually getting shuffled down to fourth at the finish line. However following the race, another five-second penalty was given to Chaponick for jumping the start, moving him to tenth place.

"I'm very disappointed, I really don't feel I jumped the start," explained an upset Chaponick following the race. "It's just not how I wanted to finish the weekend, that race was mine."

Dore will return to New Castle Motorsports Park for the 2010 Rotax US Grand Nationals on July 13-17 where he will battle for a position on Team America and a trip to Italy to compete in the Rotax World Finals.

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

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