NASCAR Racing: rules & regs, toyota camery, chevrolet impala

Question
Why can't NASCAR just let them race?Cars should meet manufacture body templates,have all safty equipment and thats IT!Let the drivers decide how fast they can handle to go.Why does nascar place so many restrictions on horsepower,rear wing config and gearing ect.....?I have been watching nascar since early 60's when racing was just that.BIG engines and drivers with real curage.Thank You.     Dan:crew chief 94-95 season Fat boy racing NASCAR North West Tour.

Answer
I have no idea as to why that is, I often ask myself the same question. I'm guessing they wanted to improve safety, though I don't quite understand how putting a splitter and a wing on a car is all that much safer. I do agree the interior on the COT is safer, but from its start until the mid 90's the cars actually resembled the stock version of the car. But I do think that if you were to race the actual "stock" version of the Chevrolet Impala, Dodge Charger, Ford Fusion, or the Toyota Camery the racing wouldn't be like it was back in the 70's because even with all the standard safety equipment on the cars there would probably be a lot of wrecks resulting in injury or death. As far as the drivers not showing courage anymore, I believe NASCAR has made it more into a zero tolerance when it comes to beating and banging and wrecking. I'll agree with you, I started watching NASCAR when I was 5 back in 1993 and I remember drivers showing some courage by punting other drivers and wrecking them. You do so much as touch a fender with somebody else or are just caught up in two other drivers altercation you are placed on probation.