A LONG-TIME RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE WORLD’S FASTEST HALF-MILE AND GENERAL MOTORS IS COMING TO AN END. GM ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT IT WILL NOT RENEW ITS FINANCIAL AND AUTOMOTIVE CONTRACTS WITH BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY AS PART OF A TEN BILLION DOLLAR COST CUTTING MEASURE. BMS PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS KEVIN TRIPLETT SAYS ITS DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE THE TRACK WORKS HARD TO KEEP LONGTIME SPONSORS. THE WORST AUTO SALES IN A DECADE AND RISING GASOLINE PRICES CONTRIBUTED TO GENERAL MOTORS’ DECISION TO RE-EVALUATE ITS FINANCIAL PLACE IN NASCAR. TRACK OFFICIALS HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH OTHER MANUFACTURERS WHO HAVE WANTED TO HAVE THEIR LOGO AND OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS AT BRISTOL.