Right now I guess it is hard enough that Nascar drivers could be considered athletes. I guess the question becomes what happens when technology becomes available to lessen some of the extreme endurance and strength factors that drivers deal with now. If there is technology that allows the cars to be cool, more advanced gyros,gimbles,seats and harnesses to lessen g-force, true zero effort power steering/assist so it just becomes a sport of skill and strategy, and it doesn’t cut down on a high level of performance, does NASCAR use it? Are grueling/hard conditions part of the sport, or is the important thing skill and strategy?
Freegards
Well, there is no danger of this ever happening because it really isn't up to NASCAR officials.
NO true enthusiast would ever adopt any of those things you mentioned. The reason we race IS the feedback, the G's, the mud, the smell of burning methanol, the dirt... and of course, the risk. Take them away, and you take away that insane and addictive rush, the high... may as well hop in the Volvo, turn on the air and go on a 3 hour trip on the interstate.
Racing generates the one drug that can't be bought outright with cash. It's the dirty little secret that non-racing folks don't quite grasp. If you do it even once, you will forever want more of it and you will spend your fortunes trying to get it.