BUFFALO TWP — Lernerville Speedway has stood the test of time since it opened in the fall of 1967, but the dirt track still doesn’t match the tradition of one of its drivers.

Carl Murdick turned 75 years old on June 6, and the Butler driver is still going strong after beginning his racing career back in 1960.

There are no immediate plans to ride off into the sunset, either.

“I’ve done well and the young guys ain’t showing me up,” said Murdick, flashing a smile, “so, I have to keep showing them their way around the track.”

Murdick started on the pole in Friday’s Big-Block Modifieds feature at Lernerville.

“That’s something I very rarely do,” he noted.

While some of Murdick’s competitors might find themselves in the front row a little more often, racing into their mid 70s is something a driver rarely gets to do.

Murdick’s advanced age has had no effect on his competitive fire. The milestone birthday didn’t give him any extra incentive for victory on Friday. There’s plenty of motivation whenever and wherever he steps into the driver’s seat.

“I like to do the best I can do all the time. It’s not just because of the birthday,” he explained. “I do the best I can do every night I go out.”

Murdick is an old-school racer with an old-school approach. He doesn’t only drive his No. 6 car around the dirt oval — he’s also the owner and mechanic.

“The biggest thing in racing today is the amount of dollars as far as motors,” he said. “I’m probably the only car on the race track that builds their own motors and maintains my own car.”

Motor trouble prevented Murdick from making a serious run at the checkered flag in Friday’s feature. However, he still managed to salvage a 12th-place finish and currently sits ninth in the Modified points standings.

“We dropped the cylinder. ... The motor was pulsating and it fell down in the heat,” Murdick explained. “We worked on it, but we didn’t get it. I was lucky to get where I did.

“If we hadn’t dropped a cylinder, I think we would have been in fifth or sixth,” he added.

Murdick won the Modified track championship at Lernerville in 1970. It represents his only points title, but consistency over the past half century has added several accolades since the crowning achievement.

Murdick estimates he’s been in the top 10 in all but “eight or 10 years” during his career. Last season, he was ninth at two different tracks.

Other honors include:

• 1992, Lernerville Speedway Milestone in Racing Award for 25 years of competitive driving.

• 2002, Mercer Raceway Park Outstanding Achievement Award for finishing in the top 10 in Modified points for 13 consecutive seasons.

• 2003, Lernerville Speedway Appreciation Award for 35 years of participation, support and spirit of camaraderie.

• 2005, Tri-City Speedway Lifetime Achievement Award for five decades of love and dedication to racing in western Pennsylvania.

• 2007, inducted into the Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Hall of Fame.

The most memorable night of racing, though, might have been on the wedding day of his late daughter, Susan.

About 35 years ago, Murdick walked Susan down the aisle while his car was en route to Knox. Eventually, he caught up with his car, climbed into the driver’s seat and won ... everything.

He took four checkered flags between both the heat and feature races for Modifieds and Late Models — and was even fast enough to get back home by 11 p.m.

“Whenever I got (to the track), I took my tuxedo off and put on my race uniform,” Murdick recalled. “Well, I had to win. ... Somebody had to pay for the wedding.

“Still miss her,” he fondly added of his daughter.

Decades later, Murdick is still whizzing around the race track — alongside his son and two-time Lernerville track champion Dave Murdick — despite a small budget.

“Whenever you’re the low-dollar guy and run with the big dogs, it’s satisfying,” the elder Murdick said. “I’m probably the oldest one here and we’re still a top-10 car.”

The 75-year-old will continue to give younger drivers a run for their money, too.

“As long as I’m feeling all right,” he said, “I’ll probably keep on going.”