MIAMI - Going into the championship press conference, we knew there would be mind games. Kevin Harvick is an expert at subtlety planting those kind of mental jabs into pressers, and today was no different.

Karma will catch up with you buddy ... He knows I wasn't joking. Harvick on what he told Logano after Talladega

He kicked off the media session jokingly revealing how relieved his was not to see a fifth driver (Jeff Gordon) added to the Chase when he showed up in Miami, alluding to the controversial 13-man Chase we saw in 2013.

Logano in the crosshairs

Harvick later took aim at Joey Logano, asking on the stage, "Are you going to call Brad up to be a moving chicane for you like you were at Talladega?" Joey simply smiled.

think this is probably the best thing that's happened to the sport in as long as I can remember. Harvick on new Chase format

Later, talking with Motorsport.com and other outlets, Harvick explained that he told Joey how he felt about his brazen block following the Talladega race, saying "Karma will catch up with you buddy ... He knows I wasn't joking."

In regards to RCR, he's happy to see his old race team running strong. "I'm proud of those guys and I'm glad that RCR was able to put it all together and move forward, doing what they got to do. We are out there to beat them though, just like the rest of the competition."

Supportive of new Chase format, happy with where he's at in his life

This year's Chase has been incredibly physical on and off the race track. No one saw this level of intensity coming, which is more than NASCAR could have ever hoped for.

"If you look at the racing and intensity ... I don't think anybody has foreseen this and as I was saying, racing at the front has almost been more detrimental than just being average. I think this is probably the best thing that's happened to the sport in as long as I can remember."

You just do what you have to do to win the championship and worry about repercussions later. Harvick in regards to winning the championship

"It's simple enough for the fans to follow along and it really takes both sides of the consistency and the winning to get what we have. I don't know what you would change (about this format)."

Harvick seems upbeat and confident, as many look to him as the favorite for the title. Mentally, he's ready to go for it. "This is the best position I've ever been in personally to win a Cup championship. I'm as happy as I've ever been."

Growing pains

His maiden season with SHR was rough during the regular season. The No. 4's blistering speed this season was interrupted by multiple snafus ranging from mechanical failures to pit road issues and on-track incidents. "We've matured as a group to the point where we can overcome things ... In order to win the championship, you need to be able to perform in those kinds of pressure situations."

Regarding title favorites (outside himseld), the former Daytona 500 champion wouldn't name anyone specific, nor would he rule any of his three adversaries out. "Right now, it's just worrying about doing what we need to do. It puts us in a better position than worry about the others. We've been doing a really good job and we just need to do our own thing."

Looking towards race day

"The champion doesn't necessarily have to win the race but it's best to control your own destiny, and that's winning the race. You're going to see other guys push it and be willing to take chances on engines, camber, running two inches instead of six inches from the wall here. Our first goal is to try to win."

When the NASCAR circuit reaches the final round of the season, one of the most popular questions is what each driver would be willing to do to capture that coveted trophy. Kevin Harvick goes in it with the mentality of you get the title first, and worry about apologizing later. "You just do what you have to do to win the championship and worry about repercussions later."