Golfers are in much better physical condition then they used to be as well. Years ago the majority of the players were built like regular folk and many used to smoke during their rounds. Lee Treveno now refers to the PGA tour as the "flat belly tour".

As for NASCAR, I have no doubt that 3-4 hours at 150 to 200 mph beats up a guy pretty good and there is definitely some serious skills involved. NASCAR's popularity has peaked in the last couple of years and it will start to shrink some in the future due to too may 1.5 mile tracks and even though there are 43 cars on the track only 5-10 cars/drivers really have a shot to win week in and week out.