NASCAR Racing: Nascar Vehicles, pound cars, speed transmissions

Question
I have recently begun taking notice of NASCAR - have always been
an open-wheel fan. Two very basic questions - do the cars have
"gears"? I can't seem to hear gear-changes.
And why do the drivers sit so close to the wheel when all in other
types of racing drivers drive with fairly straight arms? It certainly
isn't lack of space!

Thank you very much!

Answer
Yes the cars have 4 speed transmissions but for the most part, once up to speed they will stay in 4th gear because they are pretty much able to run wide open around most tracks. You will hear shifting in car on restarts and leaving the pits and at the road courses.
As for the close steering wheels, these are 3500 pound cars so they are tough to "wrestle" around corners, even with power steering. The best explanation I heard for the reasoning was by "Old DW", Darrell Waltrip. He explained, "Take a bowling ball and hold it up at arms length then hold it up close to your body and see which is easier." It's a matter of conserving strength, mainly.