Heads-Up: Simpson Warns Of Counterfeit Head And Neck Restraints

When it comes to your drag car, safety enhancements should be just as important as the performance modifications. And just like with the mechanical components, no one wants counterfeit stuff.

Unfortunately, Simpson Performance Products recently came across counterfeit Hutchens Hybrid Pro head and neck restraints. This is pretty serious, as these head and neck restraints are counted on in serious accidents to protect people from injury. If these are counterfeit, the quality isn’t up to SFI standards.

Simpson says if you have the head and neck restraint labeled Hutchens Hybrid Pro with a 2013 SFI 38.1 label, the device may be a counterfeit item. If the device has “box X” stitching, it’s most likely genuine. If it doesn’t have that specific stitching, it is counterfeit. This does not affect carbon fiber head and neck restraints, though.

If you purchased your head and neck restraint from anyone other than Simpson, or other reputable source, check it for authenticity. It has been determined the counterfeit items were punched in 2013. Therefore, if yours is from that year, and it has an irregular hole-punch, it could be counterfeit. Also, counterfeit head and neck restraints have shoe string-like tethers, and not authentic Nomex thread.

So, if you’re at an event, and you’re unsure of the authenticity of your head and neck restraint, present it to the tech officials at the event for a second opinion. They’ll be able to tell if the article is genuine, or a counterfeit. There are differences between the counterfeits and the genuine articles that trained officials will be able to pick up on.

If you feel your head and neck restraint isn’t entirely legit, do not race with it, and call Simpson Performance Products’ at (800) 654-7223. Better safe, than sorry, as they say.