Sad news for motorsports fans as Richard (Rick) Kulach announces his retirement from Nissan North America as of October 2, 2018. Kulach has had a stellar career with the company as the SW district operations manager, product planner and as the head of Nissan Motorsports in North America. His efforts over the last decade have provided support for U.S. amateur and pro racers and will be missed. Kulach joins very select company of legendary former Nissan motorsports directors like Dick Roberts, Kas Kastner, Frank Honsowetz and Ron Stukenberg. True to his nature as a hardcore racer, Kulach may finally find the time to prepare his own racecars for competition. Happy retirement!

 

I'm not entirely sad. It was time. Nissan North America Motorsports involvement has been an embarrassment relative to other makes and in is still in further decline.

 

Never met Rick although all but one of the guys you mentioned, I've had the chance to rub elbows with at one point or another. Any word on his replacement? Maybe Derek?

Speaking of, maybe Rick decided to retire after you took the division title from his son? (Every time you mention Derek, I think of Rick and just now made the connection, duh...) Hahahahahahahaha.....

For those further interested in Rick Kulach, here's a link (illegally posted but what the heck) to our own dkmura talking to Rick Kulach:
http://nicoclub.com/archives/nissan-...interview.html

 

Always was a pleasure to deal with Rick. Hopefully racer support will remain strong...

 

The lack of motorsports involvement is a corporate decision by Nissan. Much of their promotional budget has been directed by a former Disney executive, and that's why millions of dollars have been spent on Star Wars and other movie tie-ins. Kulach has been one of the sole voices within Nissan for a small budget to support both pro and amateur racing in North America. With his influence gone, the "embarrassment" will only continue to decline faster.

 

What a Mickey Mouse operation!!!

Sorry, couldn't resist. That's what always got me in trouble with Miss O'Mahony back in 3rd grade.

 

I know several of the pro teams were really left out to dry by Rick (and Nissan as a whole), while it was a Nissan decision to pull back involvement, he didn't help the situation in a lot of ways not worth mentioning in an open forum.

 

Kulach fought hard to get and keep funding for both pro and amateur programs over the years. But he can only carry so much water for the company. When the plug gets pulled by upper management, it's often the messenger who gets the majority of the blame. Kulach wasn't the problem, and lacking his efforts internally, there's not much hope for motorsports at Nissan in the immediate future.