I cannot stress enough how important the rules required safety gear is at the track. After witnessing a friend have one of the most horrific wrecks I've ever seen at the track, have to be cut out of a car, and might have his racing career ended it really hit home.
I was guilty of running slightly quicker than the 11.49 ET and did not have a roll bar or belts, but I won't ever do that again.
If your car can't pass tech, don't run it at the track because the risk is not worth it. If Mike had skimped on gear or a correct build he would have been hurt worse, or killed.
The noise that car made hitting the wall made my stomach hurt it was that bad