Exhibit 99.1

Sonic Automotive, Inc. Reports 21% Vehicle Revenue Growth;
Adjusted Continuing Ops Profit Up 41% Over Prior Year Quarter

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – July 29, 2010 – Sonic Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: SAH), the nation’s third-largest automotive retailer, today reported that 2010 second quarter adjusted earnings from continuing operations were $15.6 million, up 41% from adjusted earnings from continuing operations in the same prior year period. On a per share basis, the Company earned an adjusted $0.27 per diluted share from continuing operations, compared to an adjusted $0.23 per diluted share from continuing operations in the same prior year quarter. The adjustments, which are related primarily to debt refinancing activities and mark-to-market adjustments on interest rate swaps, are detailed further in the attached tables. During the second quarter, the Company completed the retirement of $200 million of our 8.625% senior subordinated notes using proceeds from a debt offering that was completed in March 2010.

Business Overview – Revenue Growth In Every Business Line Over Q2 of Last Year

Commenting on the quarter, B. Scott Smith, the Company’s President, said, “We are pleased with the growth in both revenues and profits over the second quarter of last year. Our new vehicle business is up both sequentially and over the same period last year as we continue to see economic stabilization in certain segments of our geographic footprint. The growth in our used vehicle business continues to drive incremental revenue in our fixed operations and F&I departments. Our strategy for some time has been focused on standardizing our operating procedures through the rollout of our operational playbooks. Results this quarter demonstrate one of the primary benefits of our operational playbooks – they create growth opportunities not just in their specific area of the business but across all of our business lines.”

New and Used Vehicles – Revenue Increases 19% and 23%, Respectively

New vehicle retail revenue increased 19% and used vehicle retail revenue increased 23% for the second quarter of 2010 compared to the same quarter last year. Jeff Dyke, the Company’s EVP of Operations, stated, “We are pleased with our new vehicle growth, particularly given that our volume declines in 2009 were not as severe as what the overall industry experienced due to our favorable brand and geographic mix. Our dealerships continue to take market share and outperform the competition in their local markets. We are excited to announce that our New Car Playbook will be introduced to our stores later this year. We expect it to provide us many of the same successes that we have already received from our proven Used Vehicle Playbook. We also continue to be very pleased with our used vehicle volume growth especially when we consider the 20% growth comes on top of 12% growth in 2009. We continue to show that the used car business has tremendous upside potential as the second quarter was our largest used vehicle volume and gross profit quarter in our Company’s history.”

Service, Parts & Body Shop – Revenue and Gross Profit Both Increase

Sonic’s Service, Parts & Body Shop revenue for the second quarter was up approximately 5% compared to the prior year quarter, while gross profit dollars were up over 3%. Mr. Dyke stated, “Our operational strategies in parts and service are specifically designed to increase the non-warranty pieces of our business to respond to improved vehicle quality, fewer units in operation and changing warranty programs. We have seen consistent growth in both our customer pay business and in the revenues we earn for reconditioning work done on pre-owned vehicles.”

Presentation materials for the Company’s July 29, 2010 earnings conference call at 11:00 A.M. (Eastern) can be accessed on the Company’s website at www.sonicautomotive.com by clicking on the “For Investors” tab and choosing “Webcasts & Presentations” on the right side of the monitor.

To access the live broadcast of the call over the Internet go to: www.ccbn.com or www.sonicautomotive.com

A live audio of the call will be accessible to the public by calling (877) 791-3416. International callers dial (706) 643-0958. Callers should dial in approximately 10 minutes before the call begins.

A conference call replay will be available one hour following the call for seven days and can be accessed by calling: 800-642-1687, International callers dial (706) 645-9291 Conference ID: 86991682

About Sonic Automotive

Sonic Automotive, Inc., a Fortune 500 company based in Charlotte, N.C., is the nation’s third-largest automotive retailer, operating 140 franchises. Sonic can be reached on the web at www.sonicautomotive.com.

Included herein are forward-looking statements, including statements with respect to economic stabilization and business improvement, future success and impacts from the implementation of our various operational playbooks, future cash flow generation, growth opportunities and future debt retirement. There are many factors that affect management’s views about future events and trends of the Company’s business. These factors involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results or trends to differ materially from management’s view, including without limitation, economic conditions in the markets in which we operate, new and used vehicle sales volume, the success of our operational strategies, the rate and timing of overall economic recovery or further decline and the risk factors described in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2009 and the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending March 31, 2010. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking information.

Sonic Automotive, Inc.
Results of Operations (Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share, unit data and percentage amounts)

		Three Months Ended												Three Months Ended
		As Reported								As Adjusted				As Reported								As Adjusted
		6/30/2010				Adjustments				6/30/2010				6/30/2009				Adjustments				6/30/2009
Revenues
New retail vehicles		$	848,610			$	—			$	848,610			$	711,083			$	—			$	711,083
Fleet vehicles			53,843				—				53,843				61,213				—				61,213
Total new vehicles			902,453				—				902,453				772,296				—				772,296
Used vehicles			470,365				—				470,365				382,091				—				382,091
Wholesale vehicles			30,111				—				30,111				33,903				—				33,903
Total vehicles			1,402,929				—				1,402,929				1,188,290				—				1,188,290
Parts, service and collision repair			287,095				—				287,095				274,032				—				274,032
Finance, insurance and other			45,985				—				45,985				38,847				—				38,847
Total revenues			1,736,009				—				1,736,009				1,501,169				—				1,501,169
Total gross profit			285,019				—				285,019				259,699				—				259,699
SG&A expenses			(228,372	)			647				(227,725	)			(205,767	)			—				(205,767	)
Impairment charges			(1	)							(1	)			(5,030	)			5,030				—
Depreciation			(8,675	)			—				(8,675	)			(8,183	)			—				(8,183	)
Operating income			47,971				647				48,618				40,719				5,030				45,749
Interest expense, floor plan			(5,507	)			—				(5,507	)			(5,492	)			—				(5,492	)
Interest expense, other, net			(15,683	)			519				(15,164	)			(23,216	)			6,712				(16,504	)
Interest expense, non-cash, convertible debt			(1,730	)			—				(1,730	)			(3,643	)			—				(3,643	)
Interest expense, non-cash, cash flow swaps			(2,235	)			2,235				—				(1,908	)			1,908				—
Other (expense) / income, net			(7,235	)			7,259				24				20				—				20
Income / (loss) from continuing operations before taxes			15,581				10,660				26,241				6,480				13,650				20,130
Income tax (expense) / benefit			(6,300	)			(4,310	)			(10,610	)			(2,916	)			(6,143	)			(9,059	)
Income / (loss) from continuing operations			9,281				6,350				15,631				3,564				7,507				11,071
Income / (Loss) from discontinued operations			(845	)			—				(845	)			(3,538	)			1,313				(2,225	)
Net income		$	8,436			$	6,350			$	14,786			$	26			$	8,820			$	8,846
Diluted:
Weighted average common shares outstanding			65,807				—				65,807				41,604				—				53,810
Earnings / (loss) per share from continuing operations		$	0.17			$	0.10			$	0.27			$	0.08			$	0.15			$	0.23
Earnings / (loss) per share from discontinued operations			(0.01	)			(0.01	)			(0.02	)			(0.08	)			0.04				(0.04	)
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
Earnings / (loss) per share		$	0.16			$	0.09			$	0.25			$	0.00			$	0.19			$	0.19
Gross Margin Data (Continuing Operations):
Retail new vehicles			7.1	%							7.1	%			7.0	%							7.0	%
Fleet vehicles			1.9	%							1.9	%			3.6	%							3.6	%
Total new vehicles			6.8	%							6.8	%			6.8	%							6.8	%
Used vehicles retail			7.7	%							7.7	%			8.1	%							8.1	%
Total vehicles retail			7.1	%							7.1	%			7.5	%							7.5	%
Wholesale vehicles			(6.1	%)							(6.1	%)			(3.7	%)							(3.7	%)
Parts, service and collision repair			49.9	%							49.9	%			50.6	%							50.6	%
Finance, insurance and other			100.0	%							100.0	%			100.0	%							100.0	%
Overall gross margin			16.4	%							16.4	%			17.3	%							17.3	%
SG&A Expenses (Continuing Operations):
Personnel		$	135,845			$	—			$	135,845			$	117,740			$	—			$	117,740
Advertising			12,964				—				12,964				11,220				—				11,220
Facility rent			32,717				—				32,717				32,132				—				32,132
Other			46,846				(647	)			46,199				44,675				—				44,675
Total		$	228,372			$	(647	)		$	227,725			$	205,767			$	—			$	205,767
SG&A Expenses as % of Gross Profit			80.1	%							79.9	%			79.2	%							79.2	%
Operating Margin %			2.8	%							2.8	%			2.7	%							3.0	%
Unit Data (Continuing Operations):
New retail units			24,854												21,574
Fleet units			2,272												2,572
New units			27,126												24,146
Used units			24,624												20,568
Total units retailed			51,750												44,714
Wholesale units			5,266												5,313
Other Data:
Same store revenue percentage changes:
New retail			19.3	%											(31.8	%)
Fleet			(12.0	%)											(47.7	%)
Total New Vehicles			16.9	%											(33.4	%)
Used			23.1	%											3.5	%
Parts, service and collision repair			4.8	%											(3.8	%)
Finance, insurance and other			18.4	%											(25.7	%)
Total			15.6	%											(22.9	%)

		2010				2009
Description of Adjustments:
Continuing Operations:
Hail damage		$	647			$	—
Debt restructuring			7,259				6,712
Cash flow swaps			2,235				1,908
Impairment charges			—				5,030
Double-carry interest			519				—
Total pretax		$	10,660			$	13,650
Tax effect			(4,310	)			(6,143	)
Total		$	6,350			$	7,507
Discontinued Operations:
Impairment charges		$	—			$	1,880
Tax effect			—				(567	)
Total		$	—			$	1,313

Sonic Automotive, Inc.
Results of Operations (Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share, unit data and percentage amounts)

		Six Months Ended												Six Months Ended
		As Reported								As Adjusted				As Reported								As Adjusted
		6/30/2010				Adjustments				6/30/2010				6/30/2009				Adjustments				6/30/2009
Revenues
New retail vehicles		$	1,589,555			$	—			$	1,589,555			$	1,362,443			$	—			$	1,362,443
Fleet vehicles			97,495				—				97,495				115,376				—				115,376
Total new vehicles			1,687,050				—				1,687,050				1,477,819				—				1,477,819
Used vehicles			892,656				—				892,656				710,381				—				710,381
Wholesale vehicles			61,389				—				61,389				71,359				—				71,359
Total vehicles			2,641,095				—				2,641,095				2,259,559				—				2,259,559
Parts, service and collision repair			565,682				—				565,682				544,701				—				544,701
Finance, insurance and other			86,959				—				86,959				74,000				—				74,000
Total revenues			3,293,736				—				3,293,736				2,878,260				—				2,878,260
Total gross profit			553,343				—				553,343				506,672				—				506,672
SG&A expenses			(451,865	)			647				(451,218	)			(411,231	)			—				(411,231	)
Impairment charges			(45	)							(45	)			(5,087	)			5,087				—
Depreciation			(17,000	)			—				(17,000	)			(15,776	)			—				(15,776	)
Operating income			84,433				647				85,080				74,578				5,087				79,665
Interest expense, floor plan			(10,413	)			—				(10,413	)			(10,660	)			—				(10,660	)
Interest expense, other, net			(32,873	)			1,464				(31,409	)			(39,950	)			8,760				(31,190	)
Interest expense, non-cash, convertible debt			(3,406	)			—				(3,406	)			(6,262	)			—				(6,262	)
Interest expense, non-cash, cash flow swaps			(3,918	)			3,918				—				(3,179	)			3,179				—
Other (expense) / income, net			(7,171	)			7,259				88				70				—				70
Income / (loss) from continuing operations before taxes			26,652				13,288				39,940				14,597				17,026				31,623
Income tax (expense) / benefit			(11,061	)			(5,514	)			(16,575	)			(6,569	)			(7,662	)			(14,231	)
Income / (loss) from continuing operations			15,591				7,774				23,365				8,028				9,364				17,392
Income / (Loss) from discontinued operations			(3,001	)			—				(3,001	)			(6,324	)			2,392				(3,932	)
Net income		$	12,590			$	7,774			$	20,364			$	1,704			$	11,756			$	13,460
Diluted:
Weighted average common shares outstanding			52,749				—				65,639				40,974				—				47,111
Earnings / (loss) per share from continuing operations		$	0.29			$	0.13			$	0.42			$	0.19			$	0.20			$	0.39
Earnings / (loss) per share from discontinued operations			(0.05	)			—				(0.05	)			(0.15	)			0.07				(0.08	)
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
Earnings / (loss) per share		$	0.24			$	0.13			$	0.37			$	0.04			$	0.27			$	0.31
Gross Margin Data (Continuing Operations):
Retail new vehicles			7.1	%							7.1	%			6.9	%							6.9	%
Fleet vehicles			2.7	%							2.7	%			3.9	%							3.9	%
Total new vehicles			6.9	%							6.9	%			6.7	%							6.7	%
Used vehicles retail			7.8	%							7.8	%			8.7	%							8.7	%
Total vehicles retail			7.2	%							7.2	%			7.4	%							7.4	%
Wholesale vehicles			(4.1	%)							(4.1	%)			(1.8	%)							(1.8	%)
Parts, service and collision repair			50.1	%							50.1	%			50.1	%							50.1	%
Finance, insurance and other			100.0	%							100.0	%			100.0	%							100.0	%
Overall gross margin			16.8	%							16.8	%			17.6	%							17.6	%
SG&A Expenses (Continuing Operations):
Personnel		$	266,821			$	—			$	266,821			$	232,858			$	—			$	232,858
Advertising			24,294				—				24,294				22,115				—				22,115
Facility rent			66,328				—				66,328				65,111				—				65,111
Other			94,422				(647	)			93,775				91,147				—				91,147
Total		$	451,865			$	(647	)		$	451,218			$	411,231			$	—			$	411,231
SG&A Expenses as % of Gross Profit			81.7	%							81.5	%			81.2	%							81.2	%
Operating Margin %			2.6	%							2.6	%			2.6	%							2.8	%
Unit Data (Continuing Operations):
New retail units			46,440												41,168
Fleet units			4,022												4,827
New units			50,462												45,995
Used units			46,326												37,924
Total units retailed			96,788												83,919
Wholesale units			10,459												11,826
Other Data:
Same store revenue percentage changes:
New retail			16.7	%											(32.5	%)
Fleet			(15.5	%)											(47.9	%)
Total New Vehicles			14.2	%											(34.0	%)
Used			25.7	%											(2.2	%)
Parts, service and collision repair			3.9	%											(4.2	%)
Finance, insurance and other			17.5	%											(27.6	%)
Total			14.4	%											(24.3	%)

		2010				2009
Description of Adjustments:
Continuing Operations:
Hail damage		$	647			$	—
Debt restructuring			7,259				8,760
Cash flow swaps			3,918				3,179
Impairment charges			—				5,087
Double-carry interest			1,464				—
Total pretax		$	13,288			$	17,026
Tax effect			(5,514	)			(7,662	)
Total		$	7,774			$	9,364
Discontinued Operations:
Impairment charges		$	—			$	3,408
Tax effect			—				(1,016	)
Total		$	—			$	2,392