"NASCAR = NASCRAP?"
Tell that to Speed Channel and see what you get.  They're going to kill Le Mans and Petit Le Mans with NASCAR practice and maybe a Truck race later this year.  But for the most part... hell, I don't care even if PD came up with an "Italian Avantgarde" for stock cars, I'd just want to see maybe two or three of them, and don't make a big deal out of them.  I don't want to see stock cars trying to challenge Le Mans race cars, I don't want to see them challenge rally cars, I don't want to see them challenge the JGTC, they should have their own exclusive series if PD wants to make something work with stock cars.  But if you want a race car that is like NASCAR, only not as powerful, V8 Supercars.  And I would love to challenge Ford with my Holden and Holden with my Ford.  But NASCAR in a game about many cars around the world?  I'm sorry, but, NASCAR is not the greatest sport in the world.  In America, maybe, but not the world.
Even six shopping carts racing Laguna Seca is more fun than NASCAR.  But my suggestion, NASCAR gets its own exclusive championship in maybe Amateur or Professional races, including one 1 hour or 90 minute stock car "endurance."  I played Daytona USA on my PC in "Endurance" mode, it can be quite dull to endurance with them, even though the real stock cars can do the Coca Cola 600 (nearly 4 hours) without driver changes.  And the ironic closer to this topic:  Speed Channel did a special on Robby Gordon doing 1,100 total at Daytona and Charlotte.  At Indy, it was 500 miles, but it rained at Charlotte, so how can you say Robby did 1,100 miles when the other race rained out later in the event?  That's stupid.  He may have a chance this year if the weather holds up in Indy and Charlotte this year.