This one's for you, injured fan told
Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009
Carl Edwards already knows what he's going to do with the trophy if he can snap his season-long winless streak on Sunday at Talladega.
Edwards plans to give the trophy to Blake Bobbitt, who suffered facial injuries following Edwards' spectacular last lap crash during the spring race at Talladega. Edwards was attempting to block Brad Keselowski when the two made contact starting off a chain of events that ended with Edwards No. 99 Ford hurtling into the catch fence along the front straightaway.
Several fans were injured as debris flew into the crowd. Bobbitt was airlifted to a hospital and had surgery on her jaw after debris from the crash came through the fence. She recovered in time to graduate from high school, but will face at least one more surgery in the future.
Bobbitt and Edwards have become text-messaging buddies over the last few months and are planning to meet face-to-face during the drivers' meeting before Sunday's Cup race. Edwards is hoping for another meeting a few hours later in Victory Lane.
"I know if I can win this race, this trophy is going to her for sure, that's the best thing to give her," Edwards said.
The track and NASCAR have both taken measures to better protect both fans and drivers. NASCAR cut the size of the restrictor plates used at the track to take some of the top-end speed out of the cars while Talladega raised the catch fence from 14 to 22 feet. The catch fence also will be raised at Daytona.
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