The wreck was seen around the world. Six months ago, a crash at the Talladega Super Speedway injured a Shoals teenager. Blake Bobbitt was one of seven NASCAR fans injured when Carl Edwards' car crashed into the catch fencing on the final lap of the Aaron's 499 at Talladega back in April. For the first time, Blake is speaking out about the scary experience and explaining why she decided to go back to the track this Sunday.
When Carl Edwards' race car crashed at Talladega, it sent metal parts flying everywhere. Blake Bobbitt, who was 17-years-old at the time, was on the second row and in the line of fire. Metal debris hit her right in the face.
"It was just scary," says Bobbitt. "It was unreal."
Blake says everything happened very fast.
"Daddy pointed and I saw all this smoke coming," explains Bobbitt. "I think I stood up to try and see what was happening and that's all I remember."
When she regained consciousness, Blake says she was on a stretcher. Blake went to the race on April 25 with her father, Terry Bobbitt, to celebrate his birthday. Blake says she never thought her first trip to Talladega wound end with her laying in a hospital bed.
"I just saw pictures of me when I was in the hospital," says Bobbitt. "Every channel that we looked at, I was on television. I just didn't know what to think. It was like a dream, like it never happened."
Blake had surgery the day after the accident at UAB Hospital. A titanium plate replaced her broken jaw bone. Her mouth was wired shut for six weeks. During that time, she celebrated her 18th birthday and graduated from Lauderdale County High School. It was a tough time, but Blake says carl edwards actually helped her get through it.
"He's a really cool guy," says Bobbitt. "We text and stuff. He checks on me. He's had his mouth wired shut before so he was telling me what he ate, trying to help me out."
Blake says Carl Edwards also encouraged her to come to another race and she agreed. This Sunday, Blake will return to the Talladega Super Speedway, along with her parents and boyfriend. The teenager says she's not afraid to go back.
"I definitely will feel safe down there this time," says Bobbitt. "They changed the fence. It was 14 feet high and now it's 22 feet high and it's arched out. I think other people will be safer too."
Blake says their seats are higher this time than they were the last time they attended a race. They received garage passes and will get to go to the driver's meeting. Blake will also get to meet Carl Edwards for the first time since she was injured.
When Carl Edwards' race car crashed at Talladega, it sent metal parts flying everywhere. Blake Bobbitt, who was 17-years-old at the time, was on the second row and in the line of fire. Metal debris hit her right in the face.
"It was just scary," says Bobbitt. "It was unreal."
Blake says everything happened very fast.
"Daddy pointed and I saw all this smoke coming," explains Bobbitt. "I think I stood up to try and see what was happening and that's all I remember."
When she regained consciousness, Blake says she was on a stretcher. Blake went to the race on April 25 with her father, Terry Bobbitt, to celebrate his birthday. Blake says she never thought her first trip to Talladega wound end with her laying in a hospital bed.
"I just saw pictures of me when I was in the hospital," says Bobbitt. "Every channel that we looked at, I was on television. I just didn't know what to think. It was like a dream, like it never happened."
Blake had surgery the day after the accident at UAB Hospital. A titanium plate replaced her broken jaw bone. Her mouth was wired shut for six weeks. During that time, she celebrated her 18th birthday and graduated from Lauderdale County High School. It was a tough time, but Blake says carl edwards actually helped her get through it.
"He's a really cool guy," says Bobbitt. "We text and stuff. He checks on me. He's had his mouth wired shut before so he was telling me what he ate, trying to help me out."
Blake says Carl Edwards also encouraged her to come to another race and she agreed. This Sunday, Blake will return to the Talladega Super Speedway, along with her parents and boyfriend. The teenager says she's not afraid to go back.
"I definitely will feel safe down there this time," says Bobbitt. "They changed the fence. It was 14 feet high and now it's 22 feet high and it's arched out. I think other people will be safer too."
Blake says their seats are higher this time than they were the last time they attended a race. They received garage passes and will get to go to the driver's meeting. Blake will also get to meet Carl Edwards for the first time since she was injured.
