The drag chute got tied up, it was probably burned to some extent by the fire. If the chute is nylon, fire will cause it to melt together before it deploys. From what I read on the Simpson Equipment web site, the chute may be made of canvas.
Whatever it is, it burns. They need to get the chute away from a burning car; IMHO it would have saved Scott’s life here. Possibly an emergency system that is activated along with the fire extinguishers.
Scott hit the sand hard. There was no aerodymic braking..he was probably busy hitting the extinguishers.
ESPN interviews with other drivers brought up something I didn't even think about. In the early days, the slow down areas and safety overruns were designed for cars with problems like a stuck accelerator and no chute. Only the speeds weren't as fast as they are today. Few strips have kept up with the new higher speeds, many have the same set up as when they were first built. The drivers were accusing the owners of negligence.
Reports were that he may have been knocked out by the explosion.