Lowe’s not renewing naming rights of speedway track

Mooresville, N.C. Lowe’s will not renew its naming rights of Lowe’s Motor Speedway when its contract expires after this season. The home-improvement retailer cited changing marketing strategies Thursday as the reason it won’t return in 2010.

Lowe’s signed as sponsor of then-Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1999 in the first major naming rights deal of a NASCAR track.

Lowe’s will continue its primary sponsorship of three-time defending NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson.