DeLana “I wear the firesuit in this family” Harvick Selected

DeLana "I wear the firesuit in this family" Harvick

Best known for "wearing the firesuit" in the Harvick family, Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) co-owner DeLana Harvick has been selected as a recipient of The Business Journal's 12th-annual Women in Business award and will be honored today at a luncheon along with the other award winners in Greensboro, N.C. For over 10 years, The Business Journal's Women in Business program has honored extraordinary businesswomen in the Triad for outstanding contributions to their profession, employers and community. Sponsored by the Bryan Series at Guilford College and NewBridge Bank, the Women in Business program recognized 15 outstanding business leaders, ranging from entrepreneurs to high-ranking executives.

"It is such an honor to be recognized by The Business Journal's Women in Business program," said Harvick. "Going to the race track with my dad as a child really sparked an interest in motorsports. I feel so fortunate that Kevin Harvick Inc. gives me the ability to go to work every day and do something that I love."

Nominations were solicited from across the Triad by The Business Journal and through a range of partnerships with business organizations. A panel of judges reviewed each application, evaluated the nomination and selected honorees. Judges considered nominees' performance in their job, their stature in their industry and their engagement in their community in selecting the honorees.

While the majority of the winners work in the Guilford and Forsyth counties, the list also spans the region, from Alamance County on the east to Davidson and Yadkin counties to the west. The honorees also reflect a great diversity of industries, ranging from financial services and health care to technology and sports.

"It is nothing short of inspiring to see what these honorees are accomplishing," said Mark Sutter, editor of The Business Journal. "They are all extraordinarily successful in their chosen careers, and still find time to contribute to their communities in other ways – as volunteers, board members and advocates."

Harvick grew up in racing as her father, John Paul Linville, was a driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series until 1995. While she would have preferred to follow in her father's footsteps behind the wheel, she found a successful career in motorsports public relations. Her strong work ethic and professionalism earned the Kernersville, N.C. native the respect of not only the media, but of the racing community as well.

In February of 2001, Harvick married her husband, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick. Together they formed KHI which celebrates 10 years of competition in NASCAR this season. The Harvicks have two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championships to their credit and multiple wins in both the Truck Series and Nationwide Series with a host of drivers. With the support of long-time and new sponsor partners, KHI has grown to three full-time Truck Series teams and two full-time Nationwide Series teams which will compete for both the Driver and Owner championships in the two series this year.

In 2010, the duo founded the Kevin Harvick Foundation. Established to support programs that positively enrich the lives of children throughout the United States, the Kevin Harvick Foundation works not only to improve the quality of life, but to help underprivileged youth find and realize their dreams by supporting programs such as the Kevin Harvick Athletic Scholarship Fund at California State University, Bakersfield, Kevin's Krew, Kevin Harvick Foundation Chase Your Dreams Scholarships and a camper cabin at Victory Junction.