The way I see it is this: NASCAR is all about risk management. You can only do so much, because there is some degree of randomness. But what you can do, is cut down the chances that a random event occurs to you. Running at the front all day reduces the likelihood someone spins in front of you, etc.
Now, when NASCAR gets into panel bashing, it's the same thing. You may win temporarily, but you best believe that guy wants to get back at you somehwere down the line, so it better be worth it. And if you get a reputation for that sort of thing, you can either make it work for you, or get haunted by it. It's all in how you manage the risk, and choose your moment.