I was always wondering why Paradise City in Burnout Paradise had so many junkyards, which serve as the player's garages. Then, I scored over 2 million in a Showtime event, hitting 80+ cars, and everything became clear. - Adbot
Similar is the method of earning new vehicles; if you can cause them to crash, then you can claim them... from the junkyard.
I once wondered why the Marked Man mode existed in Paradise. Then, I thought about it: Those chaser cars are somewhat bland, while a wide variety of liveries and colors are available to the player's cars. Also, how do you gain most of your cars? You smash 'em. Thus, the drivers of the chaser cars are either: A. rookie racers trying to get something more interesting than their current ride or B. the former owners of your stolen vehicle, looking to reclaim what's theirs while humiliating you in the process. -Dragon Geyser
The first possibility there isn't that likely. The chasers are in Hunter Civilians, a car which the player unlocks pretty late into the game.
I prefer to think that, since the Hunter Civilian is the upgraded version of the Hunter Citizen, they're actually undercover cops out to arrest you for your many crimes.
Alternatively, the chasers are The Mafia trying to wack you for some wrongdoing against them or their associates.
Imagine being in your car, either as a child in the backseat or the father driving, and suddenly these cars start driving at high speed and smash into you. And the Police won't do anything about it, because the races are apparently sanctioned. What if you threw a lawsuit at the company that organizes the races in Burnout? You could be KILLED if the company has ties to the mafia or overseas terrorists.