BUFFALO TWP — “Who is Chuck Kennedy?”

That's the fun the Mars resident, 62, likes to poke at himself when referencing his racing career.

Only there's a more definitive answer to that question now.

Hall of Famer.

Kennedy, a dirt track racer from 1978 through 2014 — including a few years on asphalt — will be formally inducted into the Lernerville Speedway Hall of Fame some time during the upcoming season. He will be inducted with fellow former track champions Dale Blaney and Kevin Bolland.

Blaney, 1991 points champion, won 18 features at Lernerville. Bolland compiled 55 wins and three track titles in the Modified division.

“Going in with those guys is pretty darn cool,” Kennedy said. “I'm not a Bob Wearing or a Lynn Geisler in terms of establishing a legacy there.”

He's had a noteworthy career, nonetheless.

Kennedy won 103 features during his career. Seven of those were during a five-year stint on asphalt at Motordrome in Westmoreland County.

“Racing on asphalt is 60 percent car, 40 percent driver,” Kennedy said. “On dirt, it's 60 percent driver, 40 percent car.

“A dirt track surface is totally different at the end of a race than it was at the beginning of the race. A driver's skill can make up for any deficiencies in the car's set-up that night.”

On July 2, 2004, at Lernerville, Kennedy won a Late Model feature for car owner Art Osmer. That made him the first driver in the track's history to win a feature in four different divisions.

He had previously won features in street stocks, semi-lates and e-modifieds at the Sarver oval.

“There were a few times I raced in three divisions at Lernerville on the same night,” Kennedy recalled. “I would literally climb out of one car, jump into another one, then do it again.

“Those were fun times.”

Kennedy was introduced to racing as a youngster by watching his uncle, Bob Kennedy, race at Lernerville. While still in high school, he helped Frank Chapel with his semi-late in the pits.

“Frank told me that if I brought my diploma from high school to show him, I could take the car out for fast laps,” Kennedy said. “Once I did that and got on that track, I was hooked.”

The worst night of his career occurred Aug. 19, 1974, at Motordrome. His car got turned backwards, slammed into a wall and caught on fire.

Kennedy suffered burns over 10 percent of his body and faced a long, painful recovery.

Still, he got back on the track before the end of the season that year.

“There was a 100-lap race at Jennerstown to close out the year,” Kennedy said. “It was important to me to get back in a race car without having to wait until the start of the following year.

“I raced 49 laps that night. Then I won the 1995 season opener at Motordrome.”

Kennedy also spoiled a bid for a “perfect season” by Charlie Grogan at Motordrome one season.

“He was going for his 13th victory of the season on that track, which would have given it to him ... and I won that night,” Kennedy recalled.

Kennedy said he always thought he'd get out of racing by age 60. But he owns the Late Model his son, Clayton Kennedy, drives each Friday at Lernerville.

Another one of his sons, Andy, used to work with Geisler. He now works for his father's auto business and helps out with Clayton's race car.

“It's strange. Andy is 34 now and has been in the sport since high school. He';s getting burned out on it now,” Kennedy said. “I'm 62. Clayton is just ready to get rolling.

“He gets better each year. And I'm still fixing transmissions for other cars. It's still in my blood.”

Kennedy is already a member of the Pittsburgh Circle Track Hall of Fame.

“It's cool being a part of that, but Lernerville ... this is where I cut my teeth on racing. It's where I love to be on Friday nights.

“It's hard to express what this induction means to me.”