NFPA, Joey Gase to Celebrate Sparky the Fire Dog at Talladega Superspeedway
Joey Gase of NY Racing will represent the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in the Jack Link's 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, April 26.
In honor of Sparky's 75th birthday, Gase will be driving car #44, which is adorned with the NFPA's cherished fire safety emblem, Sparky the Fire Dog. Sparky has been educating people about the value of fire safety and prevention since 1951. Throughout the year, NFPA is commemorating the milestone with events that showcase Sparky's ongoing contribution to children's and families' fire safety.
“Having Joey back on the track at Talladega is another important opportunity to bring NFPA’s safety message to NASCAR fans throughout the country,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. “As we share that message this week, it is also important to recognize that our hearts are with the Birmingham community following the tragic loss of three family members in a recent home fire. We extend our deepest condolences to all those affected by this tragic event, which only underscores the importance of home fire safety.”
The race on Sunday will start at 2 p.m. CST and be broadcast on FOX and HBO Max. MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will provide radio coverage.
NFPA's continued racing partnership with Gase continues with Talladega. As part of the NFPA 250, his team recently represented NFPA at Darlington Raceway and Martinsville Speedway last month, expanding the organization's audience, influence and safety reach.
Please visit the NFPA press room for this release and other news regarding NFPA resources, research, and projects.
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Ryan Baker
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Ryan Baker is a writer and associate editor with prior experiences in online and print production. Ryan is an associate editor for Firehouse with a master's degree in sciences of communication from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He recently completed a year of teaching Intro to Public Speaking at UW-Whitewater, as part of his graduate program. Ryan acquired his bachelor's degree in journalism in 2023 from UW-Whitewater, and operates currently out of Minneapolis, MN. Baker, also writes freelances for the Ultimate Frisbee Association (UFA) in his free time, while also umpiring baseball for various ages across the Twin Cities Metro Area.