The official word from National about how they will treat the requirement for a HANS device for this upcoming 2012 season is just in. Check the language of the Tech Bulletin (of course) but in essence:
1) You must wear an approved head and neck device this year to race.
2) The device must have an FIA and/or SFI certified sticker. If your existing device does not have that sticker (usually means it was purchased before 2006) then you must send it in to get an SFI certification label to race this season.
3) National is NOT requiring it to be RE-certified if it has a label but is at or beyond a five year period (assuming your device has a date of manufacturer) at least for this season. That may change but National has said this is official for now.
Again, our recommendation is that you verify this with the GCRs (Fastrack tab is at top there) but also that you keep monitoring this issue as there are language discrepancies between SFI and the just issued Tech Bulletin. The Bulletin will be what our Scrutineers will be enforcing. If you have not sent in your existing non-labeled HANS yet, now is the time to get it in before the rush.
