Engine builder Charlie Buck, who’s built a strong reputation for big-inch nitrous engines over the last three decades, announced his retirement on Thursday, July 18 via a statement on the Buck Racing Engines Facebook page. Buck is also selling the property, equipment, and building that housed Buck Racing Engines in King, North Carolina.
Buck learned the ropes of the engine building business from the late Sonny Leonard, whose Sonny’s Racing Engines shop built engines for Pro Stock and Pro Mod icon “Tricky” Rickie Smith. That led to an opportunity to work with Smith on his in-house engine program. In 1993, Buck made his dream a reality and launched Buck Racing Engines.
Over the last 31 years, Buck and his team built engines for a wide-ranging customer base that expanded beyond traditional drag racing to include boat racing, circle track racing, truck pulling, and mud drags. Within drag racing, his customers included racers in PDRA Pro Nitrous and other various Pro Modified groups, Top Sportsman and Top Dragster, bracket racing, and more. Most recently, customers competing in Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings put Buck Racing Engines in front of a massive international audience.
Read Buck’s full statement below.
Long post for customers and friends
41 years ago a small town kid Left Hillsville Va. to go work for Sonny’s Racing Engines, while there I met Rickie Smith and did work on his race engines. 5 years later I moved to King NC employed by Rickie. He believed in me and took a huge chance to have an in-house engine program. Several world championships later, I would call it a success!
This puts us to 1993. The dream I had to own my very own race engine shop, and Buck Racing Engines was born. During the past 31 years. Nitrous oxide engines have made us famous. The “Big Buck” what was the last huge accomplishment, designing my own head and engine, was a dream come true. But we have so many other accomplishments, and other areas that we have won championships in, bracket racing, boat racing, asphalt & dirt circle track,truck pull, mud drags, and so many street engines.
During the time at BRE we’ve had so many wonderful employees, including my brother Tim Buck, and without him BRE would’ve not been possible.
We’ve had so many wonderful and faithful customers that I am thankful for many. I consider my friend to this day with so many accomplish races in car owners we have been fortunate to have so many wins and championships over the past three decades.
After 31 years of hard work and dedication I’ve decided to hang up the grinder and retire.
Sincerely,
Charlie Buck Jr.
Buck’s machine shop is available for sale. According to Buck’s post, the turn-key machine shop is available immediately, including the property, building, and equipment, not the business name. The equipment is available as a complete package to pre-qualified buyers.
This story was originally published on July 19, 2024. 
