Ok, its probably been asked and answered else where BUT ...

Where are the streets that these guys race on and not get busted by the cops? Are the races "sanctioned" by the cops or something? And other than the guys who are featured and obviously getting some funding from the shows, how can they afford to take the risks of wrecking the car, losing the car or losing their license for a few measly dollars ??

Cops are on site .

Producer gets permits to shut the road down.

It says at the beginning of the show it's in a controlled environment.

Yes the city {Memphis} gives permission and cops and street to the producers. The time I went to watch a filming it was on Riverport rd south of downtown. You had to have permission from the film crew to get past the cops blocking the road.

In the episode where Mustang Mike crashed his car (OKC vs. Memphis) it looked an awful lot like the road that runs right by Comp Cams facility (Democrat road?). 4 lane road, paved median, train tracks right by Comp Cams. I know they aren't on that road in the Memphis show, but in the earlier episodes when OKC went to Memphis.

That was on Air Park just south of Winchester Rd.

Thanks! Just google earthed it. Air Park looks somewhat similar to the area on Democrat where Comp Cams is.