For those who don't know her and have only an outsider's perception of her, DeLana Harvick can come across as a bit intimidating.

But during a recent 1-on-1 sit-down interview with NASCAR.COM recently in a conference room at Kevin Harvick Inc., the racing organization she helps run along with her husband, driver Kevin Harvick, DeLana was nothing but DeLightful. And no, she did not wear a firesuit.

“

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.

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-- DELANA HARVICK

Harvick talked openly about how she believes much of the racing public has misunderstood her, the challenges she and her husband face as owners of teams in the Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series, and why she has no immediate plans to pursue any off-track hobbies.

Question: How did you come to be so involved in running such a successful racing business?

Harvick: Learning to manage people and owning a business, those are difficult things to do, and certainly I've made mistakes. But I think Kevin and I have learned from them. We're a team. We've always been together as a team. We knew by starting these teams that our ultimate goal was that when Kevin stops racing, he'll still be able to be a part of something that he loves to do -- and that's racing. So we knew we wanted to be team owners.

He's not going to drive forever, or at least I hope not. So yeah, it is challenging -- especially now -- in terms of securing sponsorship when economic times have changed a little bit. But I still pride myself on the fact that we've been able to continue to bring new people into the sport and we've been successful on the track. It didn't come overnight, but I'm proud of what we've accomplished.

Q: Do you foresee eventually fielding Cup teams, or did that look a whole lot better two years ago?

Harvick: It's hard to never say never. But Kevin has always said this: it would have to be the right time, the right sponsor, the right situation. So I don't know. It interests me, but not enough to jeopardize what we've done so far -- because I'm pretty happy and content with where we are.

It's so competitive, and we're talking a couple million [dollars] budget [for each team in the lower series] vs. a $20 million budget for a Cup team. That's a huge responsibility, and I take it as a responsibility because there are 100 people here who rely on us. I feel a responsibility to them and their families. I wouldn't be ready to make that commitment [to field any Cup teams] unless I was 100 percent secure in the situation.

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.