Because i have a friend who works at sams club, i feel the need to defend that remark. Chances are its not that the "mechanics" couldn't recognize the problem, its that they just kinda wanted to watch a dumbass with more money then brains. I would do the same thing, besides catastrophic failure is always more entertaining then a burnout.
My buddy works at one part time these days for extra money and will pretty much let any of those asshats do that stuff. I believe he once watched a guy in a lifted blazer do a big burnout to kill the tires and the guy slid the truck into some stored shopping carts. lol