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It's not a right to race, but a privilege. If a sanctioning body wants to improve/implement better safety equipment, its their choice, just as it is a choice if a racer wants to run that organization. Racing, especially sprint cars is dangerous. No piece of safety equipment will save every life and in some rare instances could makes things worse, but that is the exception. I think most people would not drive a street car without seat belts anymore, but a rare individual may think seat belts are dangerous "just in case a car crashes into a lake and the driver can not get out, but i think most people would think in the majority of instances having seat belts is better. With containment seats, to be honest I do not have enough knowledge on the subject to give or make an opinion. I would let the smarter guys in room, help guide the discussion, let the science decide what is better. I think driving almost any race car without a head restraint system is asinine. If containment seats are deemed much safer, they should be mandatory (especially since their cost is now reasonable). Parts break in race cars, but when you crash, I would think most reasonable people would want the best possible safety equipment to reduce injury or even death. I'm sure the first time a driver put on a helmet, than with a hans, a fire suit, gloves, really tight seat belts it did not feel right or even comfortable. Once drivers become accustomed to better safety gear, it becomes comfortable in time.
PS Does Tony Stewart wear a head restraint system when he races sprint cars or dirt late models? I'm probably wrong, but I thought I saw picture of him not wearing a hans.
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