Exactly, as the article says, it wouldn't be about the accomplishments of the driver and his/her reflexes and abilities, it would be all about the engineering team, AI, and tech, behind the vehicle! It would be fantastic! But I can see where it wouldn't really fit into "NASCAR" really, it would be more of a sport of its own - like you said, battlebots.
I'd rather see Demolition Derby battlebots.
Heck, I miss the original BattleBots for that matter.