Opinions that are not based on facts, well they do tend to be on the smelly less pleasant side.
On the other hand when what is said is based on facts, things are more on the "boom chicka wow wow" side.
Here is the complete list of all the Nascar's that I did a few months back, they are still the same now.
Only changes from the dealership setting were...oil change, 0 camber and toe, 500/700 down force and final gear to 2800. 2800 because some of them will hit the limiter if left at 3000.
I entered single player TT mode and went to route X, removed all driving aids including abs. Accelerated to the top speed the cars would go to until they reached the hill.
This takes all driving skill out of the question, wheel or DS3 makes no difference.
199MPH cars:
2013 #43
200MPH cars:
2013 #18
2011 #14
201MPH cars:
2013 #99
202MPH cars:
2013 #14
2011 #42, #11, #20
2010 #20, #11
203MPH cars:
2013 #48, #88, #42, #20, #11
2011 #48, #88, #24, #99, #18
2010 #18, #14, #42, #48, #24, #88, #83
204MPH cars:
2013 #24
2011 #99, #83
2010 #43, #99
More facts, not an "opinion", this is PD data showing the difference on new cars with no oil change dropped down to 600pp. This is the maximum HP you can get at 600pp for each one.
717hp 84.5% power
2010 #24/#14/#48/#43/#99/#88
2011 #24/#48/#99/#88/#43/#99/#83
2013
None
716hp 84.4% power
2010 #83/#18/#20
2011 #20/#18
2013 #24/#42/#11/#48/#88/#20/#14
715hp 84.3% power
2010 #42/#11
2011 #42
2013
None
714hp 84.1% power
2010
None
2011 #14
2013 #18/#99/#43
Two examples showing that Nascar's are not all the same without even discussing how they do racing on an oval.
Now that would be a fun discussion.