I can see damage being done to the motor mounts when you "dump" the clutch, but as for the clutch itself, its not like you're riding it, its a very quick engagement. I guess the ebrake is also put some strain onto, but then again, what different is that then you just locking your rear brake? As for the engine, it gets a revving workout but are engines are supposed to be able to take that right?
As for drive line components, I can see the CV joints being damaged due to the incredible amount of force that will all of the sudden be "shot" thru the drivetrain.

 

Heat is the problem. When you're driving, cooler air is blowing over the tranny, radiator, and their repsective coolers. When you sit stationary doing a burnout, the fluids will start to burn and boil. Respective hoses, clutches, propeller vails, gears, bearings, etc will eventually fail. Also, most guys will sit and do a burnout for a little while and then park their car. All they are doing is making matters worse by letting the fluids drain off and out of the components and they are left to heat soak. Burnouts are much worse for automatics and can lead to a failure after a one minute burnout.

IMO, burnouts are pointless and they prove absolutely nothing. To me, all it shows is someones lack of care and respect for what they drive. Burnouts don't mean your car is faaaaaaaaast. I could just as easily do a burnout in my father's Tahoe or Buick La Sabre as I could in my Max.

Import guys seem to be more concerned about doing burnouts than the musclecar guys. I guess the import guys have bit of RWD and torque envy.


Dave