Last Lap: Chill or spill?

Hop in, we're cruising the hypothetical highway for a moment:

You awoke this morning, sinuses so clogged it seemed Drain-O was in order. Your eyes were super-glued shut and your baseball-sized bladder felt as if it could accommodate a cantaloupe.

	Marty Smith

You peeled yourself out of bed only to slam your toe into the bedpost, triggering a dance-like one-foot-hop movement akin to the mid-80s break dance maneuvers found in various Run-DMC videos.

And that's just the beginning.

Once the toe stops tingling, you wander into the bathroom only to realize there's no hot water. Your shirts are wrinkled like your sharpei. The coffee tastes like 10W-30, traffic is backed up for an hour and the boss isn't interested in hearing about it. A key conference call starts in 15 minutes, the cleaning lady has discombobulated your files and your fly has been open all morning.

That's the entire day in a nutshell. By the time you leave, the wrinkles in your shirt are hidden by a half-plate of beef stroganoff, your windshield is adorned with a parking ticket and your presentation was a disaster.

As you pull into the driveway after 10 hours of hell, all you want to do is grab a seat, a beer and some solitude. But you're welcomed home by a small token of appreciation from the sharpei, a Crayola-covered wall-turned-greeting card and a pair of youngsters demanding to know what's for dinner and when it will be served.

Fuming, you have two options: explode in frustration or ask them for a few moments alone to unwind.

Why am I telling you this? To help illustrate how Winston Cup drivers sometimes feel when they climb out of the car after a tough day, only to have microphones and tape recorders invading their personal space.

That raises today's Last Lap question: Do you think NASCAR should require the media to give drivers a short 'cooling-off period' after an incident on the track?

Personally, this is extremely difficult to answer. I always try to give those guys time to cool off, but if it's my responsibility to get their view on the situation, and fail to, I have to answer to the boys that sign my checks.

It's the same for most everyone in the media, regardless the genre. It's our job, so the line between performance and invasion is as fine as Catherine Bell.

STP43: "I'm mixed on that. There are obvious advantages to a cooling-off period, but it also has the drawback of letting a driver concoct a 'spin' answer instead of a blunt, honest answer, and the media and fans need bluntness and honesty, not spin."

Big 10-4, King Richard. The NASCAR machine was built on raw emotion and an honest human element, both verbally and physically. Face it, it's exciting to see two guys go at it, be it with words or fists. The thing is, showing that emotion opens the competitors up to unwarranted criticism.

	In February, Mike Wallace was fined for using inappropriate language in the vicinity of a network camera. Credit: AP

Chelsjr8fan: "A lot of children are at home watching the race with their families, and I'm sure a lot of parents would appreciate not having to mute interviews from irate drivers."

First, I must say that Chels' response made several valid points, but was cut considerably for the sake of space. However, the part about muting the television in an effort to preserve a perception of wholesomeness is ludicrous.

Don't get all bent out of shape, here. In no way do I condone cursing in front of youngsters. But if Junior doesn't hear the language on television, he'll hear it on the playground. Believe me.

And isn't it the parent's job to point out inappropriate behavior, after all?

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Sorry, veered off on a tangent there for a moment. This isn't Parenthood Magazine. My fault.

Tumbleweed: "Let me put it to you this way -- imagine that little blond running up to Tiger Woods after a bad shot like she did to Jerry Nadeau Sunday right after his confrontation with the pit crew of Ryan Newman and asking him why he thinks he missed that putt; or a basketball player when he missed a free-throw; or a football player after a bad pass, kick, or missed interception.

"This sport is no different than any other except for easy access to the driver compared to players in other sports. I've always thought that was a very unprofessional and ill-timed thing to do. So yes, they should get the same respect as other individuals in sports."

I disagree with the whole "other sports get 15 minutes after the game to cool off, so racing should too, deal." I understand the concept, but think about it. When a driver wrecks, and he's out of the race for good, he changes clothes and he's gone. By the end of the race, he's sitting on his couch in Mooresville, N.C.

It's not like the drivers all convene in one area like players do in every other sport. For us, running around that garage after the race, dodging fans and cars, is pure mayhem. In racing, getting that quote is often now or never.

Racergirl1: "Most definitely. Media reps are not ENTITLED to interview anyone and shouldn't forget that. Drivers are human and deserve time and space before responding to a microphone shoved into their face. The media CREATES situations when they display a lack of respect - - like the media clown who played Tony Stewart's comments last year when Tony wasn't even aware he was being taped from a distance. That's rude. The situation was compounded when a decision to play them was made, only exacerbating a difficult situation Tony was already in. The media eggs situations on by creating them, then 'judging' the response of those they've set-up."

If I was smart, I'd leave that one alone. Obviously, I'm not smart. Lumping all media in a sensationalist category shows ignorance. Sure, some are despicable, but we don't all work for Star Magazine.

BigEliveson: "Of course NASCAR should let drivers cool off. They're bound to say some stupid things if a mic gets shoved in their face right afterwards. Think of yourself on a busy freeway. Some jerk cuts you off, and you get mad.

"You curse and swear, but after a few minutes, when you've had a chance to cool off, you probably wouldn't say the same things. Adrenaline can make us act like idiots. Everybody knows that. By letting the media get into drivers faces right after an incident, they're practically asking for problems."

Tell that to these guys:

Raginbull: "Hell no. I don't want to hear some scripted or rehearsed B.S. about 'one of those racing deals.' I also think it is (expletive) how NASCAR fines drivers and crews for slipping in a f-bomb here and there."

I agree wholeheartedly with that, Jordan. Chad Knaus didn't deserve his fine last year at Dover, nor did Mike Wallace this season at Rockingham. So what if they slipped a "bad word" out? It's not their fault the camera was all up in their face during an emotional time. That's something 95 percent of the fans love to see and don't take offense to.

GoldyLocks76: "Hell no, that's NASCAR. I, for one, love to watch the reactions of the drivers when they are upset. It's exciting and fun to hear/watch what they have to say about the driver they are mad at. Besides, why do you think Bristol is the most sold out venue??? Everyone loves the fights!"

Always have, always will.

As you can see, the verdict is still out on this one. I think it's a virtually unsolvable Catch 22, requiring the media to pursue their job requirements while remaining sensitive to the driver's feelings.

It ain't always easy

Nascarchick: "I think that if a driver doesn't want to talk to the media, tell them to go away! If the media chooses to stick around, then watch out! It becomes their responsibility if something inappropriate comes out of a very frustrated, exhausted, angry, and agitated driver's mouth.

"All of these drivers know going into this sport that chatting it up with the press is part of the job. How they choose to handle it is up to them."

Couldn't have said it better myself. God Bless America.

Marty Smith is Senior Writer of NASCAR.com and the opinions listed here are solely those of the writer.