“Manuals are more fun, IMO.”
Agreed.
“It’s the one thing you have in common with racing machines.”
Not so much anymore. NASCAR still uses H-pattern gearboxes, but with the next-gen car they will start using sequential boxes just like every other racing series.
I’m not enthralled with many of the changes NASCAR is making on the new car, but this one isn’t a big deal. Except the road courses and one oval, they never shift once they get into fourth gear.