INDIANAPOLIS — One of the most passionate advocates of the FloRacing All Star Circuit of Champions was honored with a unique award following Thursday night’s program at Circle City Raceway.
Blake Anderson, the longtime public address announcer for the All Stars, was chosen as the first of four recipients of the Rayce Rudeen Award for service to motorsports.
As part of each event during the All Stars Indiana Invasion mini-series, the Rayce Rudeen Foundation will hand out the Rayce Rudeen Award to a person who exemplifies Rayce’s humble heart and selflessness.
“This award is about people who always put others’ needs before their own, like Rayce did during his life,” said Kent Rudeen, Rayce’s grandfather, during a surprise presentation on the frontstretch Thursday night. “Blake has a kind heart and his willingness to help everyone whenever he’s at the race track makes him a perfect person to honor with the Rayce Rudeen Award.”
Anderson was visibly taken aback by the honor, his talkative nature struck silent for several seconds as he took in the moment.
“I did not expect this,” admitted Anderson, who has been the Voice of the All Stars since Tony Stewart’s acquisition of the touring winged sprint car series in 2015. “It’s been a pleasure working with the Rayce Rudeen Foundation as a part of the All Stars and we get to raise a lot of money throughout the year for a cool cause. It’s something that means a lot to us, and everyone with the foundation has done so much for us.
“This means the world to me that everyone thought of me and something I’ll put on my desk with a lot of pride.”
Rayce Rudeen, the award’s namesake and the late son of Rudeen Racing team owner Kevin Rudeen, passed away in 2016 at the age of 26 after a battle with addiction.
In his memory, the Rayce Rudeen Foundation was founded to help provide services to those fighting addiction and their families, with the goal of preventing losses like the one suffered by the Rudeen family.