So what happened in the Malibu finals?

[DW]

TW, there were actually several factors involved in that particular incident where the HANS device was only one of several items that would have made a significant difference, but you are correct in the fact that the HANS would have made a significant difference.  Actually, there have been no basal skull fractures (the method of pulling the plug in all of these cases) with HANS usage.  Adam Petty, Tony Roper and Kenny Irwin all suffered almost identical incidents, none wearing HANS and unfortunately all three not surviving.  The weak link is a fore/aft force on the spinal column causing a break.  Side to side impact our cord is much stronger and the head tends to be restrained by the vehicle configuration, thus accidents like Paul Tracy's (pre HANS) were not fatal.  The HANS device is a brilliant invention courtesy of Professor Robert Hubbard of Michigan State University and initially used by Jim Downing in sports car racing in the late 80's early 90's, although a different version.  Ironically, Kyle Petty used one when he drove with Jim at the 12 hours of Sebring in the early 90's. 

Your Arm Guard IMO prevents the exact same basal skull fracture issue.