WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – Motorsports and farm animal protection do not generally go hand-in-hand, but on Thursday, June 2, Watkins Glen’s two star attractions came together when vegan race car driver Spencer Pumpelly, a two-time winner of the Glen’s six-hour race, paid a visit to the rescued animals of Farm Sanctuary (farmsanctuary.org), the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization.
“I am very passionate about both animals and health, and I want to do more to promote both,” says Pumpelly, who is returning to the Glen this Saturday as the defending GT champ. If he takes the top prize again, he plans to donate his share of the winnings to the organization to support their work on behalf of abused and neglected farm animals. “I am honored to support Farm Sanctuary and the people who are devoted to defending others.”
Pumpelly, who races sports cars professionally in several different series, has been a vegetarian for over eight years and a vegan for just under a year. He contacted Farm Sanctuary after seeing the Watkins Glen-based shelter and the organization’s President and Co-founder Gene Baur featured in Forks Over Knives, a groundbreaking documentary examining the profound claim that most, if not all, of the so-called “diseases of affluence” (heart disease, stroke, and diabetes) can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting the predominate menu of animal-based and processed foods. Pumpelly immediately made the connection between Farm Sanctuary’s shelter for abused and neglected farm animals and the nearby Watkins Glen Speedway, to which he travels every year to compete in races.
“I knew vegan was the right thing to do, but I always figured it would be too hard with all the traveling I do,” says Pumpelly. “I decided to give it a try last summer when several things, including my favorite local pizza joint starting to carry Daiya non-dairy cheese, seemed to point me in that direction. After a few weeks of adjusting, I now find it quite easy no matter where I go.”
“We are excited to have Spencer Pumpelly’s support,” says Baur. “We hope his dedication to protecting farm animals and compassionate living will inspire other race car drivers and racing enthusiasts to pay us a visit the next time they are in Watkins Glen.”
For updates on Saturday’s race, follow Spencer Pumpelly on Twitter @SpencerPumpelly.
