Some of the top NASCAR multi car teams have budgets approaching 80 to 100 million and that doesn't include the value of manufacturer R&D. Many employ 200 or more people, not manufactures but multi car teams. I would guess all the chevrolet teams together would have a similar budget to an F-1 manufacturer and employ many more people. This would be for 30 or so cars though, not the few that F-1 teams have (6 or 7?). I haven't talked to anyone about Busch engines, I know they have about 100 less hp and use roller cams. All engines have to be V-8s 358 cid or less. I believe Busch cars are 400 lb lighter and have a shorter wheelbase. Someone else here could prolly answer these questions better than I.

No competition NASCAR cars go to car shows, dealerships etc. They have "show cars" that are used for that. Most are outdated or used up cars that are made cosmeticly similar to the latest race cars. Racing tires harden with age so all tires more than a year old are very hard. Goodyear supplies tires at each race, no team can buy them anywhere else or take them with them after the race. NASCAR and goodyear decide on the tire compound for each race. Teams used to get the used tires after a race, maybe Goodyear makes a showcar tire now, I am not sure.

Even most NASCAR fans don't know how much development has been put into the engines. The latest figures I have heard for cup are 860hp. Horsepower has almost doubled in the past 20 years with no change in the basic engine design. That is some serious engineering.

beth