At the age of 40, Phil “Rock” Gumpert decided it was time to start crossing things off his bucket list. As if buying and selling produce didn’t give him enough of a rush, he wanted to start driving race cars. Gumpert, the CEO and Chairman of Tom Lange Family of Companies, enrolled in driving schools and found his second passion. “Racing is a lot like the produce industry for me,” Gumpert explains. “It is a competition within yourself, striving to beat your own best time and excel to your best potential… on and off the track.” He has held his racing license for 31 years, and still races SCCA with a Formula Atlantic car and Vintage Racing with a 1976 Formula One car and several Indy cars.
As a resident of Noblesville, Indiana, Gumpert became friends with Formula One and Champ Driver, Derek Daly, and the Daly family. He admired the talent and drive of Derek’s son, Conor, who began racing go-karts as a 10 year old. Rock Gumpert and the Tom Lange Family of Companies have sponsored and watched Conor Daly progress into the skillful driver he is today for over 12 years.
Gumpert and Conor Daly share many parallels, especially between their love of racing and the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. Daly was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was just 15 years old. This was
life-changing news for Daly, now 24 years old, as he would need to alter his eating habits and learn the importance of physical activity. He was able to take any frustrations in coping with his diabetes in his teenage years and channel that into his passion for racing. There was nothing that could slow him down.
On race days, Daly follows a strict regiment of a balanced diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables, and taking his insulin shots. He wears a glucose monitoring system and there is also one in his car. While continuing to promote fruits and vegetables as a part of a well-balanced and healthy eating plan, Tom Lange Family of Companies is happy to be one of Conor Daly’s sponsors.
Daly will start the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 in 24th position this Sunday, May 29. This will be his third time in the 500. Daly’s first qualifying run was 227.804, followed by his second at 227.862. Best of luck & a safe race for Conor Daly this coming Sunday!
For more information, please visit www.tomlange.com.