DeLana dishes on firesuits, T-shirts, Logano's words (cont'd)

She said she understands that some people do not get it.

"It can be seen both ways. I think a lot of people want to mock and make fun of it. I guess maybe they don't understand the reasons behind why I do it," she said. "And then there are a lot of people who do understand and are very supportive. They feel like it's my decision and they also see it as my way of being supportive of the team. I don't know. I just feel like it's the right decision for me."

Critics also have pointed out that when she's on top of Kevin's pit box for Nationwide races, she frequently is spotted in "regular clothes" without a firesuit on. She explained her reasoning behind that as well, citing increased responsibilities on the Nationwide and Truck Series teams she co-owns with her husband. Kevin Harvick drives for Richard Childress Racing in the Cup Series.

"The challenge I face [on Saturdays] is I have a lot more responsibilities as KHI has continued to grow -- with sponsors and things that I do before the race," DeLana said. "I'm usually hustling right up until the time of the race. So for me, I have all these other commitments. The challenge for me is how do I work those in and then do I make the time to change [into a firesuit] or not. It doesn't make me feel comfortable [to not be in one], and what I like to do is get off the pit box during pit stops. Have I been on the pit box during the pit stops [and not in a firesuit]? Yep. Absolutely. It doesn't make me comfortable. But for the most part -- I'm going to say 99.9 percent of the time -- I get off of the pit box and leave the pit-box area. I won't even stand in the pit-box area on Saturdays.

"For me, it's more of a timing issue on Saturdays -- because I've got a lot of stuff going on. Sometimes I go straight down from a suite for driver introduction and the invocation and national anthem with Kevin, and I certainly don't want to miss that time with him before the race starts. So it is a challenge. But I hope I can find a good solution to that."

In the end, DeLana Harvick said wearing a firesuit is a personal decision. She also said she understands why some people question it.

"I wouldn't say that I don't care," she said. "But I get a lot of questions on why I don't remove my hat for the national anthem. I was brought up that women don't have to remove their hat. I'm not being disrespectful; that's just my choice and that's what I believe.

"So for me and my personal choice of wearing the firesuit, that's just what I want to do. I certainly care what people think. But if I think I've made a personal decision or a right decision, I'm not going to change what I believe."