Racing is alot about weight savings. Bashing is about durability and long fast run times. Racers will run a 3200mah lipo if its enough to finish the race, with the lightest components. Basher have shock boots, skid plates, 5-8ah lipos, heavy wheels/tires. When a racer breaks something they usually have another few of them in the field box. Where a basher breaks something they go home and look online for a more durable after market one adding another 12 oz.

You can bash a racer but all you will do is thrash it, you cant race a basher (and be consistently competitive) IMO