Dore Chaponick January Review

Floridian karting pilot continues busy winter months this weekend in West Palm Beach

February 11, 2010

Miami, FL - Over the next seven weeks, Dore Chaponick Jr. will be one busy kart racer as he continues to do battle in the Florida Winter Tour (FWT) and well as the Championship Karting International Florida Cup (CKI). With six events in seven weeks and three different championships on the line, Dore will have his hands full for the remaining winter months. Kicking off the month on February, Dore will race the next two weekends at Palm Beach International Raceway for the FWT Formula Kart and Rotax Max weekends, then travel Homestead Karting for rounds two and three of the CKI Winter Cup before heading north to Ocala Gran Prix to compete in the final two FWT events. With three race events already under his belt for the 2010 season, Dore remains in the Championship hunt is all three classes and championships entered.

Dore entered the opening FWT Formula Kart weekend at the Orlando Karting Center in the IAME Jr. class. Aboard his familiar Defrancesco Racing FA Kart, Dore earned the pole position for race one. However in both the pre-final and final, he was forced to settle with a fourth place finishes. In race two, he qualified a disappointing seventh, but rebounding in the pre-final by finishing second. For the second straight day, he just missed the podium as he crossed the finish line in fourth place. Consistent drivers and solid performances paid off with Dore leading the points standings entering round two at Palm Beach International Raceway.

"I am very happy with my results at the first FWT race in Orlando," commented Chaponick Jr. "It was my first race in the IAME Jr. class and to leave with the points lead is awesome, but now I want a victory."

The following weekend, the team returned to Orlando for the opening round of the FWT Rotax Max Challenge. Moving up to the Rotax Max Jr. class, Dore battled with 57 other kart racers from around the globe. In race one, the 2008 FWT Rotax Mini-Max champion qualified ninth, then drove to third in the pre-final before having to settle for eighth in the final. His luck on Sunday however was not the same, as after qualifying in sixth, he fell to twelfth in the pre-final, and was involved in an opening lap incident in the final, forcing him to pull off on lap one and settle for 31st. When the dust settled, Chaponick Jr. sits twelfth in points and with one drop available, he is still in championship contention.

After back-to-back weekends, the team enjoyed a rare weekend off before traveling to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the opening rounds of the CKI Florida Cup. Again entered in the Rotax Max Jr. class, Dore managed to qualify his FA Kart in fourth for the first race. Moving up to third in the pre-final allowed him to battle for the lead in final. Racing hard the entire race, he earned his first podium of the 2010 season, finishing in third place. However his luck again ran out, as after qualifying third for race two, an incident while leading forced him off track and down the running order. Resuming in tenth place, he fought back to finish seventh in the heat race. An excellent start in the final vaulted him up into second spot. But with only two laps to go, Dore was again knocked off track while battling for the lead. This misfortune resulted in a sixth place finish. The championship battle after the opening weekend is very close, and Dore is right in the middle of it in fourth place.

"It seemed like it took forever to get my first podium finish of 2010," continued the young Chaponick. "I just want to thank my tuner Mike for all the hard work he has done this year. I wouldn’t be battling up front without his help and the help from the DFR team."

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.