CONCORD, N.C. -- Released this month after serving a 16-month prison sentence for tax fraud, Gene Haas is rediscovering his role as co-owner of the Stewart-Haas Racing team.

For the first time since given permission from a district court judge to attend NASCAR races, Haas fielded questions from the media Thursday at Lowe's Motor Speedway flanked by his new driver and partner, Tony Stewart.

Haas was sentenced to two years in a low security facility in California in November 2007 and was incarcerated on Jan. 14, 2008.

Haas' race team, Haas CNC Racing, became Stewart-Haas Racing when driver Stewart was given a 50 percent interest in the team -- an idea proposed to Haas a year ago by Joe Custer, general manager of the team.

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I have a lot of faith in the people I see and we are finally getting results. Wining a race after seven years was a long time coming.

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GENE HAAS

Prior to that, Haas said he advised Custer to make a change to the team or turn the operation into a truck stop. The team had been in the business for six years and was still struggling. So Haas credits Custer for the successful turnaround and the idea to present Stewart with the ownership option.

Now Haas is readjusting to the newly formed Stewart-Haas team and enjoying the quick success the operation has acquired during his absence.

"As far as how I'm going to put myself back in the day-to-day operations, about the only thing I'm qualified to do is open champagne bottles," said Haas, whose first race attended post-prison was last week's Sprint Cup All-Star Race where Stewart won, although it was a non-points event. "I really think Tony and [teammate] Ryan [Newman] are two of the best drivers on the circuit today. I think they know what they are doing ... everything has been well thought out. When I sit in on driver meetings I'm really just learning."

Haas said he is not in a position to interject a lot into the business operation because he doesn't live the day-to-day activities.

"I have a lot of faith in the people I see and we are finally getting results," he said. "Wining a race after seven years was a long time coming."

In its first season after the change, the new team has Stewart second in the Sprint Cup Series standings and Newman eighth.

Stewart said he is happy to have his partner, whom he didn't know until recently, back at the track and back at the race shop talking to the employees.

"After the win Saturday night, he was at the shop Monday and Tuesday. In fact, I think he has been at the shop every day this week," Stewart said. "I think he is kind of taken aback a little bit by how it has changed from the last time he was at the shop to this time. I'm excited. He sat in the team meeting with us Monday and actually came up with some good ideas on a couple variables we were having trouble with. He is a very, very smart individual."

As for the incarceration experience, Haas, who spent the majority of his sentence doing prison work or exercising, said he is ready to put that period of his life behind him and move on.

"Just trying to put the pieces back together as best you can and try to minimize the damage that happens in your life," Haas said. "They way I look at it, it was an unfortunate event in my life. I stood up and took responsibility for what happened. It goes back to the year 2000, almost nine years ago. I just want to get on with my life ... There's not much I can do about it. These things happen, and if you dwell on them too long you can never move forward."