MECHANICAL WOES PLAGUE DORE CHAPONICK JR. AT US ROTAX GRAND NATIONALS

"Chaponick Jr. makes tremendous comeback in final to score top-ten finish"

July 29, 2011

Miami, Florida - July 29, 2011 - 2011 Florida Winter Tour Rotax Junior champion Dore Chaponick Jr. had his sights set on walking away from the Miller Motorsports Park just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah as the 2011 US Rotax Junior Grand National Champion. After enduring heartbreak at the 2010 event, he was bound and determined to be crowned the victor but mechanical failures once again plagued the up-and-coming pilot. With his never give up attitude, Chaponick Jr. wowed the crowed in the final after charging through from the back of the pack.

Hitting the track Wednesday for official practice, Dore and his mechanic Mike, along with the entire DeFrancesco Racing crew, went to work to tune his FA Kart for the dry and dusty desert conditions of the Tooele, Utah facility. Posting competitive times during the day's five sessions, the rising talent would stay within the top-ten leading up to the crucial qualifications the following day.

With the event utilizing the three heat race flight format, a staggering 42 karts were all vying for the elusive pole position where qualifying is key to get a good starting position for the heats. After the two group sessions hit the track for the timed session on Thursday, Chaponick Jr. was to be classified in the 13th position with a time of 59.393 as the 14-year-old pilot would once again be facing mechanical gremlins in the biggest event on the US karting calendar.

"In qualifying, my clutch broke so I was only able to clock the 13th quickest time. It is definitely not where I wanted to be, but I am confident I can work my way up over the three heat races," noted Chaponick Jr. after the session.

Starting in the seventh position for his heat races, Dore finished fourth in the Group 1 vs. 3 run on Thursday, and then bettered his results Friday taking third in Group 1 vs. 2 and second in Group 1 vs. 4. With his three top-five finishes from the heats, Dore would set himself up with a fifth place starting position for the prefinal. The prefinal race again saw Chaponick Jr. face mechanical woes, as a blown motor would put the talent out of the race on lap eleven while running in fifth. With a DNF and classified in the 33rd position, Chaponick Jr. would have a lot of ground to make up in the 20 lap main event.

And did he ever make up ground in the final. Coming from the last row on the grid, Chaponick Jr. was a driver on a mission as he picked off karts one by one during the final. After passing a staggering 24 karts, the DFR pilot eventually came home with a top-ten finish taking the ninth place at the checkered flag.

"I definitely had my heart on earning the title, but I am proud of my entire week here in Utah. Coming from near last to finish inside the top-ten was great. I'll be back next year with the hopes of taking the Senior title," continued Chaponick Jr. "I must thank my mechanic and mentor Mike, my mom and dad, everyone under the tent at DFR and all my supporters. The US Rotax Nationals was a great event, but I will now turn my focus to the Pan Am finale and the Rotax Grands later this year."

Dore's next national action will take place at the New Castle Motorsports Park for the Pan American Challenge finale. As the 2010 Rotax Junior Pan Am Vice-Champion, Chaponick Jr. will have his sights set on taking the title amongst an international crowd in September. Dore will also be preparing for his second consecutive trip with Team USA to the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals set for November 19-26 at Al Ain Raceway in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

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

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

Photo Galleries Desktop Wallpaper Follow me of Facebook