Harvick all business under her everpresent firesuit (cont'd)

Q: So do you wear the firesuit at KHI?

Harvick [laughing]: No, there are a ton of people who wear the firesuits here. And, you know, I don't know how this reputation that I have got started. But Kevin and I have always done things together as a team. That's one thing.

It may not work for everybody else, but we're with each other virtually 24/7. Luckily five years ago when we moved into this new building, we're not in the same office. In our old building, which is now our fab shop, we not only were in the same office but our desks were right beside each other. So we work together, we travel together, we race ... it may not work for everybody, but it works for us.

Q: So where is his office in relation to yours now?

Harvick: He has his office at the other end of the hall. We're far enough apart that if we start screaming, I can go trotting back down the hall to my office and take a breath.

Q: Where do you think KHI will be five years from now?

Harvick: Good question. I think a lot depends on the economy. I think a lot depends on the driver situation. We tried our hand at bringing developmental drivers in, and that didn't seem to work with us. [Four-time and defending Truck Series champion] Ron Hornaday has been our most successful driver, and we thought he was 52 [years old]. I could have sworn it was two years ago when we celebrated his 50th birthday, but he's been going around lately telling everyone he's 51. We're still trying to figure it out. [Editor's note: Hornaday actually has been telling the truth; he won't turn 52 until June 20.]

The point is we've tried it both ways, and I think trying to develop younger drivers and working with veteran ones is an important stepping stone for any organization. For us, working with veterans has been better. I don't know. Maybe down the road we'll try our hand again at bringing in younger guys to develop, but for this stage where we're at right now with KHI, it hasn't worked.

Q: You seem to wonder a little at this perception outsiders have of you, but don't you think a little of the fascination has to do with you being sort of a woman power broker in a sport otherwise dominated by men?

Harvick: Well, I'm not afraid to speak my mind. And I think sometimes with me being a woman maybe people misconstrue that and want to put stereotypical names on me because of that. That's OK. I'm not afraid of that.

Q: What do you think most people just don't know or don't get about you?

Harvick: I don't think they realize what a loyal person I am. If you win my trust, I'll fight to the end for you. And I have an opinion. I have an opinion on everything -- and you may not like it, but I'm going to be honest with you and I'm going to tell it to you straight from the heart.

Q: What do you do away from the track to keep your sanity, as if you have any time to do anything away from the track?

Harvick: Kevin has taken up golf. He's better than he lets on, I think. I don't have anything like that going on right now. That's been a discussion lately between Kevin and I. What am I going to do to sort of get some normalcy back in my life? But to be honest with you, if you walk away from this place too long, it can get out of sorts in a hurry. And I don't want to do that. I'm really committed to making this place successful -- so for right now, this is everything.