There is risk in the sport. But I think I am safer at 140 mph in my car with a good 6 point roll bar and 5 point harness then a some of the guys I've raced against that are running 11.50 ET @ 120 mph with no bar and only a lap belt to hold them in place in the event of an accident.
The rules should allow you to go more than 1.5 seconds faster with a bar than someone that doesn't have any safety equipment. I seen a guy hit the wall at 120 plus in a 10.0 car. He hit almost head on and took the wall out.They had to replace a section. He walked away. The roll bar and harness are a big step up from running a car without.