Tony Stewart makes surprise appearance at Atlanta – Nascar

RELATED: Stewart hospitalized with back injury | Full ‘Smoke’ coverage

Tony Stewart is still rehabbing following back surgery for an injury sustained in a January all-terrain vehicle accident that has forced him to miss the start of his final NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, but he has made a return to the race track.

The Stewart-Haas Racing driver/owner was spotted at Atlanta Motor Speedway speaking with interim driver Ty Dillon after the Coors Light Pole Award Qualifying session.

After failing to make it to Daytona for all of Speedweeks — including the Daytona 500 — Stewart called into the broadcast to give a few updates during the season-opening “Great American Race” just five days ago. It was a pleasant surprise to see the three-time champion back in action, if just in an advisory role to the young Dillon — and it’s also a good sign of his continuing recovery and overall progression.

MORE: Stewart calls into FOX broadcast from bed

Dillon will start 18th in Stewart’s No. 14 Chevrolet in Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 (1 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN).

Hey, Smoke!@TonyStewart @tydillon @StewartHaasRcng #NASCARonFS1 https://t.co/hJtTP70JvB

— FS1 (@FS1) February 26, 2016