Legendary machines like the Roadrunner came out of Detroit with 350 cubic-inch engines and eight hot cylinders. Those cars were made for street racing. Then along came the oil crisis of 1974. The cars fell out of fashion and street racing went further underground. But oil is a lot more plentiful nowadays, and the races are getting more popular.
Nobody cares too much that a guy can get killed.
And Gonzales isn't losing sleep over the grim idea. I was watching two guys race in a deserted part of Queens. I think it was a Mustang and an Integra. The Integra lost control and smashed into a brick wall. He hit it head-on.