(OKLAHOMA CITY) – The SONIC Drive-In crew(s) at 296 HIGHWAY 29 NORTH is/are one step closer to qualifying for the National Finals of the 16th annual Dr Pepper SONIC Games, the competition that recognizes the best SONIC Drive-Ins in the country. The CONCORD SONIC is one of 300 remaining drive-ins striving to become one of the Final 12 teams to participate in the Dr Pepper SONIC Games National Finals in Las Vegas, Nev., Sept. 20-21.

“The crew(s) should be proud of their hard work and dedication to advance to the top 10% of all SONIC’s in the nation,” said Nelson Taylor, vice president of operations services for SONIC. “Dr Pepper SONIC Games is a unique and fun experience that encourages employees to deliver outstanding customer service. It also provides opportunities to learn about goal setting, responsibility and teamwork.”

The 16th annual Dr Pepper SONIC Games gives employees a chance to prove which drive-in is the best with challenging team and individual competitions. The nine-month, Olympic-style competition tests the knowledge of SONIC crew members in the categories of Carhop (food delivery), Fountain (drink preparation), Switchboard (service delivery), Dresser, Grill and Swamp (food preparation).

The Dr Pepper SONIC Games began in January with more than 2,600 enrolled drive-ins. The Final 12 teams will receive an all-expense-paid VIP trip to the National Finals in Las Vegas, Nev., September 20-21, where they will compete to be named the nation’s best drive-in. SONIC’s top executives will honor the winners at SONIC’s National Convention in Las Vegas in front of more than 3,000 franchisees, managers and employees.

SONIC, America’s Drive-In (NASDAQ/NM: SONC) started as a hamburger and root beer stand in 1953 in Shawnee, Okla., called Top Hat Drive-In, and then changed its name to SONIC in 1959. The first drive-in to adopt the SONIC name is still serving customers in Stillwater, Okla. As the nation’s largest chain of drive-in restaurants, SONIC has more than 3,500 drive-ins coast to coast. More than a million customers eat at SONIC every day; and with more drink combinations than any other quick-service restaurant – more than 168,000 – SONIC is Your Ultimate Drink Stop?. For more information about Sonic Corp. and its subsidiaries, visit SONIC at www.sonicdrivein.com.