So when my boss said that I was going to the Paul Newman press conference, my first thought as I sat in my jeans and t-shirt was, ‘I am not dressed to meet a Hollywood star.’ It always comes back to the outfit, doesn’t it?

We spent time before the press conference looking at all the preps for the “Cars” premiere: the three giant movie screens, the red carpet and the actual cars. It is a huge set-up, a huge undertaking and it was a lot bigger than I thought it would be. This is one cartoon I’m excited to see.

At the press conference, there were more than 100 journalists from around the world from Ireland, England, New York, Los Angeles and right in the middle of it all was the local media from Charlotte, North Carolina. I stressed about what I needed to ask. I worried about my armpit sweat.

Paul Newman is a legend and he’s raised more money for charity than I’ll probably ever make myself. One of the first things he said? He was worried he’d come into the room with his fly down. That broke the ice.

People asked questions about everything. His love of racing (he’s been a championship driver himself), his first car (a 1937 Packard), the key to a successful marriage (humor), and why he did an animated movie (because he knew it was going to be good). His answers were often short and he thought before he spoke. If he didn’t want to answer, he didn’t.

I was stressing about my own question, which I determined would be about him being in North Carolina. But, I didn’t have to even ask it because a reporter from another station beat me to it. And Newman’s answer was far from exciting. He said he’d been in the area before, a lot of times. That was it. The answer went over like a lead balloon. I was glad I wasn’t the one who asked it.

Lowe’s President Humpy Wheeler gave Newman a 1951 Toy Hudson as a thank you gift. Wheeler told Newman if he focused on racing instead of acting he’d be one of the world’s best. Newman laughed and the shared a good ol’ boy hug.

I’ve only been to the track a couple of times and every time I’m amazed at just how big of an operation it is. NASCAR is an entire culture, a world you can’t understand unless you put yourself in it. Even with a giant Hollywood premiere in the middle of race week, the whole thing is a well-oiled machine.

Newman answered questions for more than an hour. At times he was funny, but he was always in control. He wasn’t going to answer anything he didn’t want to. Like a true legend, he had a presence.

For an 81-year-old, he’s still got it. And for this twenty something producer – I had a new appreciation for racing, this Hollywood legend and a movie I can’t wait to see.