DORE CHAPONICK JR. EARNS INVITATION TO ROTAX MAX CHALLENGE GRAND FINALS

"Florida Winter Tour Rotax Junior Champion"

April 1, 2011

Miami, Florida - Junior karting standout Dore Chaponick Jr. has secured his invitation to the 2011 edition of the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals (RMCGF). As the Florida Winter Tour Rotax Junior champion, the DeFrancesco Racing team member is set to make a return trip to the RMCGF representing Team USA.

Coming into the final rounds at the Ocala Gran Prix facility in Ocala, Florida with three victories and one second place finish, Chaponick Jr. held a commanding lead in the overall Rotax Junior points standings. The 2010 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals Team USA member would struggle during the two qualifying sessions on Friday, only managing the 18th quickest time for Saturday and 20th for Sunday.

Working to get his FA chassis dialed in, Chaponick Jr. would move up seven positions during Saturday's prefinal. With a difficult inside sixth row starting position for the main event, Chaponick Jr. could only make up one position and would cross the stripe in tenth.

Only needing to take the green flag to secure the championship for Sunday's final, Chaponick Jr. would round out his 2011 Florida Winter Tour campaign with another tenth place finish. Chaponick Jr. would be crowned the 2011 Rotax Junior champion by 82 markers and secure his place on Team USA for the 2011 RMCGF in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates come November. With international competition and the 2010 Team USA member experience under his belt, Chaponick Jr. will be a force at the Al Ain Raceway.

"I am so excited to have secured my place on Team USA for the Rotax Grands. Although I struggled here in Ocala, I managed to hold it together and come away with the championship. I would like to thank my mechanic Mike, the entire team at DeFrancesco Racing, Supertune USA, as well as Bill Wright and the entire Florida Winter Tour crew for putting on such an amazing event," exclaimed Chaponick Jr. "Returning to the Rotax Grands was a goal I had this season, and to accomplish it this early in the year is really a testament to the support and hard work of the whole DFR crew!"

Chaponick Jr. would also make a splash in this Senior debut the weekend prior. Competing in the Formula TaG Senior category, the rising star would never be outside the top-five in all official timed sessions. Saturday's competition would see Chaponick Jr. scored the pole position in qualifying and take the prefinal win. Holding the lead at the drop of the green flag, Chaponick Jr. would fall to second before the midway point and maintain his position until the checkers.

Sunday would see Chaponick Jr. put his Supertune powered FA Kart in the second place during qualifying. Losing one position in the prefinal race, Chaponick Jr. would use the inside line to his advantage to slip into second at the start of the final event. The Miami area resident would ride the bumper of the leader throughout the 20 lap race, but would come up just short and settle for another second place finish.

For more information on Dore Chaponick Jr., please visit his website www.DoreChaponick.com