April 2, 2011 at Maxton, North Carolina
The Nelson Family travelled to Maxton, NC in the first week of April 2011 to race their "37" coupe at the Maxton Mile. On the car's first pass on Saturday, April 2, 2011, at around the 3/4 mile mark when the car was traveling at approximately 140 mph, a malfunction within the transmission caused it to shake itself loose from all of its mounts. Andrew Nelson (Driver) recalled that just before the pass, reverse wasn't engaging properly. He believes that at around the 3/4 mile mark when he decided to ease into the throttle that the transmission incorrectly engaged itself into reverse and drive at the same time. Following this, the transmission case cracked in two near the rear of the case, shattered the tail stock, shook loose from the cross member, and broke loose from the engine with a second crack above the torque converter. The car coasted through the mile mark at 87 mph, making an unpleasant clattering noise. Andrew deployed the parachute early in order to slow the car down as soon as possible.
