Most NASCAR wives are usually just somewhat familiar with the motorsports lifestyle before they meet their future husbands. But DeLana Harvick, the wife of NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick, was actually an active participant in the NASCAR world long before she met her the 2014 Cup Series champ.
Born in Kernersville, North Carolina, DeLana is the daughter of former Busch Series driver John Paul Linville, and she visited her very first race track when she was only three weeks old. Ever since then, she's been hooked.
Harvick has certainly spend her fair share of time around garages and speedways, and she appears to really enjoy being around the environment. After graduating from University of North Carolina-Greensboro, she decided to turn her hobbies into a career.
DeLana Harvick's Career
Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR
Before meeting Kevin, DeLana Harvick worked in public relations for four-time Cup Series champ Jeff Gordon and former NASCAR driver Randy LaJoie.
In 2001, DeLana decided to move away from PR, and she and new-husband Kevin became co-owners of their own race team, Kevin Harvick Incorporated.
The whole goal of Kevin Harvick, Inc. was to bring home a Camping World Truck Series championship, but they also competed in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (now the Xfinity Series). Over the years, Kevin and DeLana worked with some legendary NASCAR drivers, such as Tony Stewart, Ron Hornaday, Clint Bowyer, and Bobby Labonte.
DeLana was extremely dedicated to the team, and when she had something to say, everyone in the garage would listen. A huge part of the success of this race team should be credited to this hard-working woman. She and Kevin kept the race team going strong up until 2011, when they decided to sell KHI to Richard Childress, the iconic team owner of Richard Childress Racing.
As it turns out, Kevin and DeLana work pretty well together.
In 2010, they established the Kevin Harvick Foundation. KHF actively supports programs that help enrich the lives of underprivileged children around the United States.
These programs include the Kevin Harvick Athletic Scholarship Fund, a camper cabin at Victory Junction Gang Camp, Baptist Children's Homes of NC, and Boys and Girls clubs, among many others. Thanks to the help of DeLana, the foundation continues to help thousands of children.
DeLana and Kevin Harvick's Family Life
Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
DeLana met Kevin at Michigan International Speedway in 2001, while she was working for Randy LaJoie. One year later, just after his NASCAR Cup Series debut, the two got married in Las Vegas, Nevada.
It was a crazy time for Kevin, as he had just been announced as a replacement driver for Dale Earnhardt after his tragic death at the Daytona 500. On top of that, 2001 also was the year the Kevin and DeLana started KHI. But, despite the hecticness of that year, the two made it work.
This marriage marked the start of something great for the power couple. You could tell just how invested DeLana was in the sport, because she'd always be on the top of the pit box wearing a custom-made fire suit during Kevin's races. Something not many other racing wives can claim. Harvick brought home a win in Atlanta just a week after their wedding.
Kevin and DeLana have been going strong for more than 20 years now. They currently live in Charlotte, North Carolina with their two kids, two cats, and three dogs. Talk about a full house!
Their son Keelan Harvick was born on July 8, 2012. Keelan took to racing right away, getting his start in kart racing at a young age. In April 2021, Keelan joined his dad in an eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race. This kid has prodigy written all over him!
The Harvicks' daughter Piper, born on December 28, 2017, is somewhat of a character. Posing alongside her dad and big brother for a picture in March 2022 (which Kevin Harvick later posted on Twitter), Piper didn't get the memo for the double peace sign pose. Instead, she adorably flipped the double bird. I wonder if she learned that from Mom or Dad...
MORE: Joey Logano Blasts Kevin Harvick After Pocono Wreck: "His Wife Wears the Firesuit in the Family"
This post was originally published on January 25, 2021.
