Kevin Harvick doesn't pay close attention or put much stock into what the talking heads say about him. This approach allows the veteran NASCAR driver to remain even-keeled throughout the year-long racing season -- plus he has sound and constructive communication with his own crew.
But the 45-year-old Harvick realizes the value of social media and interacting with fans, and all he hopes is that fellow drivers won't fall into traps online.
"I've done social media pretty much since it's started," Harvick told The DA Show on Wednesday. "Where I've landed on all of that is, I'll get in those moods where I'll get on there and banter around, but social media I try to use to my benefit, and my benefit only. Because there's so much that you can get yourself buried into on social media, that you just have to be so very careful from getting yourself wound up. It's hard to take back those words that you type once you push them.
"And we preach this to a lot of our young drivers. Whether you have five followers or 100,000 followers isn't going to matter if you do or say something on here that shouldn't be on social media. I love social media, and it's a very useful platform. But I just can't stand complaining -- especially on Twitter -- getting on there and just complaining about something. I'd rather talk to you and complain about it than type it because I just feel like it has more merit when the words come out of your mouth. It's much more impactful than typing on the keyboard.
"But, social media is a part of our world, and you have to participate in it. You have just to be very, very careful in how you utilize it."
Harvick, who's the full-time driver of the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford in the NASCAR Cup Series, has 58 career wins in 726 career races at NASCAR's top level. He's also a two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series champion with 47 career wins in that series.
On Sunday, Harvick will participate in the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway in Virginia. The race will be aired on FOX at 3 p.m. ET.
The entire conversation between Harvick and DA can be accessed in the video and audio players above.
You can follow The DA Show on Twitter @DAonCBS and @CBSSportsRadio, and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.