Car bazaar to creditors: We've got a deal for you.

• Position: Charlotte

Sonic Automotive Inc.'s boom might turn to bust unless it can get debt relief. The Charlotte-based auto-dealer chain lost $686 million last year after earning $96 million the year before. In March, it said heavy debt, especially near-term maturities, might land it in bankruptcy, though executives express optimism about long-term prospects. "Our dealerships continue to perform extremely well, despite the soft environment," President Scott Smith says. "I believe that we compare very...