Tube frames, fat tires, high horsepower, and light weight. This is a combination for injury. All the safety protection in the world can only help so much. These cars , which really haven't changed much since 1950, weren't designed for what they are doing in 2008.

Mechanical failure aside, the other part of the combination is the age of most of the young drivers today. Yes they're fast and spectacular to watch, but they are not as prone to thinking about what is going on as Darland , Coons Jr, and guys of that age bracket are.This definately adds to part of the equation.

Last but not least , weather we like it or not, this is a dangerous game, and sometimes the price to play is rather steep. Thankfully, do to the safety improvements over the last few years, paying the ultimate price is a lot less frequent then it was 20 years ago.