Smoke Stewart makes his debut -- -- -- -- -- -- I'm good thank you would you get that nickname. I have had a nickname for about sixteen years. Now since when -- start running sprint cars back in the day we are very good throttle controls we spent the tires a little bit on the exit. He sent a little haze of smoke amounts that's the stuff and today it's smoke on the water here in the Bay Area so you come to town. Do you actually drive a car while you're here you have to go -- the madness to drive around here we would drive a lot when we're in town that you know obviously from the racetrack -- hotel room back wheel drive in -- It's I don't get on the interstate here if I don't have to. I just felt the resume -- it's a little bit dangerous thing. Tell me about your season so far starting with the Daytona 500. I don't hit a pretty good -- actually win that ratio fade a little bit towards the end and wound up. Thirteen tell me about via the Super Bowl in your sport this year yeah it was a different dynamic. This year and what we've seen in the past obviously Daytona went through -- paving in the offseason and went back and then the way we racer was totally different we were seem to car packs. There were you know some I was pushing the other car. And we just didn't get a good restart opinion with two laps to go we we start on the outside the front row and just couldn't get going and and and upon back in two laps from second to thirteenth. You want almost every race except Daytona and India are those the two are ever gonna run -- -- go in the Indy Racing League again for. Now it's you know -- I still have that Indy 500 spot on my resume that I haven't been able filled you know the IndyCar Series got so competitive now and with our. Our hectic schedule with the NASCAR signed it it's really hard to go back and running apples 500 and the competition -- so tough that if you really wanted to go back and have a true shot went in the race I think you have to start the season with the team that you wanted to remind you you're you're solely up part owner of your of your race car so it's entirely different dynamic you have the time to -- that I would assume how does that change the way you. Worked throughout the week being a part owner of your current house opposes this racing for Joe Gibbs gets kind of wearing two hats now you know Monday and through Thursday were basically a car owner and then once we get on the plane that. To have the race weekend and that's kind of when we switch hats and and -- that driver mode again and so once we start on Friday. Am a crew chief during -- that's basically I feel like who I work for for the weekend so. He's my employee during the week and on the weekends I feel like those that I'm his employees so I think that's what it why it works well so I feel like I work for Darian and mean we we have his leadership on the weekends and I just focus on the driving like -- -- -- do how often do you call coach gives to the state had to pick his advice and being in order to do that a little bit occasionally we do we still we still stay in touch a -- we seem on the race weekends obviously -- out. You know I can't spend twelve years my life driving for the coach and you know a lot of the things I do that Stewart Haas racing -- things that I learned from from coach did so -- You know he's always made himself available stolen not -- feel -- part of their family. What -- say do you let those moments you're known for your for your feisty yes -- member of the batting ahead which Jeff Gordon years ago when you get into it you know being a football coach he's used to guys. Blowing a gasket says figures speech there but yeah what are you -- you when you're you're losing your mind and go when ex -- -- Jeff Gordon. You know that the thing with Joe was that you at the end of a woman when it went all calm down he he would still look at -- you're still easier than football guys that -- I'm a lot smaller to deal with two so our coach is actually bigger than I am so why he was always able to keep us under control but. You know it the one thing about Joe is he's really good with people mean that's his strength and that's how he's been successful in the NHL -- NN FL. Then HR -- in NASCAR's new knowing how to deal with people knowing how to lead people so. You know Joe always knew how to deal with myself and deal with Bobby -- Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin. He just knows how to lead people three time Super Bowl champion you want a couple of championships for him and you were -- racing form so tell me about this weekend to go on down to Southern California to take part of the auto club 400 where you. You pretty successful on this stretch of six months ago and we won the fall race there last fallen. You know some places obviously the next time anytime that you win -- attracted and excited to back you always -- it was a lot of confidence so I'm really looking for the the weekend. Excited about being in. Quote -- sunny California we'll wait for the sunny park to come into play but. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Inside scoop on. On our cars driving right after practices over so it's a great package and Vinnie Jones put together for everybody and if you haven't been out to infineon speedway. -- highly recommended its it's beautiful countryside to begin with but to CEO of the track the mean you can't really get an appreciation for what. I am thing on race plays like people want to see a person. You've actually won there twice as I mentioned you also wanted to Watkins Glen in upstate New York the same here go five C would likely be the road -- little attention -- -- like I like doing something different hits it's nice to have your road course races on the schedule and you know there's a lot of these cup teams -- really put a lot of emphasis on the road course programs and really do it twice a year but. A lot of these teams are put a lot of time and effort and to be in better and every time we go back to Sonoma. It's. But the list of guys that you know have a legitimate shot at winning keeps growing and larger Indiana born Columbus North High School you -- for the Butler Bulldogs this weekend absolutely -- -- letting -- do it again -- go to the final four I hope so I mean it was a it was a fairy -- last year get them there and you know I think -- they're showing why they had a shot last year Tony did you -- get good luck this weekend out in -- southern sunny California we'll see you later on appeared at Sonoma. The great Tony smoke -- one of the greatest racers of all time joining us in studio.