You have to get pretty low on the NASCAR food chain to see cars that resemble "stock" cars and even then, those cars are 20 years old! They have turned into the cars they have now due to all the safety concerns with that many cars racing together at those speeds at those tracks. Plus there is a ton of money pumped in and they want the teams to be as close as they can to not totally loose their fan base. Do I think they rules are fair??? No, but it is what it is...take it or leave it.
I've seen both the Cup Series and IRL race at Richmond. The IRL cars are easy to see they are faster than the Cup cars! The most recent Cup Series qualifying speed is 127.131 MPH and the most recent IRL qualifying speed is 167.315! At that rate, the Cup car will be lapped every five laps
WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?! I've seen the Cup Series run at larger tracks such as Rockingham (1.017 miles @ 158.035 MPH), Charlotte (1.5 miles @ 186.034 MPH) and Dover (1 mile @ 161.522 MPH) and can easily tell they're running faster than the smaller tracks I've been to, such as Martinsville (.526 miles @ 95.371), Richmond (.75 miles @ 127.131 MPH) and Bristol (.533 miles @ 128.709 MPH).
I've seen both the Cup Series and IRL race at Richmond. The IRL cars are easy to see they are faster than the Cup cars! The most recent Cup Series qualifying speed is 127.131 MPH and the most recent IRL qualifying speed is 167.315! At that rate, the Cup car will be lapped every five laps