Ty Dillon, driver of the #3 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet, interacts with a crew member in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Axalta Faster. Tougher. Brighter. 200 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 11, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)Darrell Wallace Jr., driver of the #6 Cheez-It Ford, practices for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Axalta Faster. Tougher. Brighter. 200 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 11, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty ImagesDaniel Suarez, driver of the #19 Juniper Networks Toyota, sits in his car during practice for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Axalta Faster. Tougher. Brighter. 200 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 11, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)Brennan Poole, driver of the #48 DC Solar Chevrolet, practices for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Axalta Faster. Tougher. Brighter. 200 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 11, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Robert Laberge/NASCAR via Getty Images)Brendan Gaughan, driver of the #62 South Point Chevrolet, prepares to drive during practice for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Axalta Faster. Tougher. Brighter. 200 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 11, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Erik Jones, driver of the #20 Reser’s Fine Foods Toyota, practices for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Axalta Faster. Tougher. Brighter. 200 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 11, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)Brandon Jones, driver of the #33 E-Z-GO Chevrolet, practices for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Axalta Faster. Tougher. Brighter. 200 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 11, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Robert Laberge/NASCAR via Getty Images)Martin Truex Jr, driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops / TRACKER Boats Toyota, practices for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 11, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Robert Laberge/NASCAR via Getty Images)Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Monster Energy / Haas Automation Chevrolet, drives during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 11, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Alliance Truck Parts Ford, drives during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 11, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Carl Edwards, driver of the #19 Stanley Toyota, practices for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 11, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. Photo by Robert Laberge/NASCAR via Getty ImagesRyan Blaney, driver of the #21 Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire Auto Center Ford, walks through the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 11, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty ImagesKevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John’s Chevrolet, speaks to the media during a press conference prior to practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 11, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty ImagesKyle Busch, driver of the #18 Skittles Toyota, poses for a photo after winning the pole award during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 11, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. Photo by Robert Laberge/NASCAR via Getty ImagesKyle Busch, driver of the #18 Skittles Toyota, places the Coors Light Pole Award decal on his car after qualifying for the pole position for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 11, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Robert Laberge/NASCAR via Getty Images)
Mike Haag has covered motorsports in San Antonio and South Texas for more than 39 years. In addition to covering motorsports for the San Antonio Express-News for nearly 28 years, Mike also has co-hosted TrackSmack with Dawn Murphy for 19 race seasons. In addition to being a writer, Mike taught high school English and Journalism for 30 years before retiring in May, 2020.
By Mike Haag