Exhibit 99.1

Sonic Automotive, Inc. Continues Portfolio Maximization Strategy; Q3 Revenues and
Volume Up Over Strong Prior Year Quarter

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — October 26, 2010 — Sonic Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: SAH), one of the nation’s largest automotive retailers, today reported that 2010 third quarter adjusted earnings from continuing operations were $0.27 per diluted share, compared to an adjusted $0.26 per diluted share from continuing operations in the same prior year quarter. The adjustments are detailed further in the attached tables.

Business Overview — Strong Top Line Growth Over Prior Year

Commenting on the quarter, B. Scott Smith, the Company’s President, said, “Our total revenues were up approximately 9% over a prior year quarter that included the positive effects of the Cash for Clunkers program. Our strategy of portfolio maximization is built on utilizing predictable, repeatable and sustainable processes at our dealerships through our operating playbooks. These playbooks, coupled with the lowest associate turnover rate in our Company’s history, are driving our current operating performance. As we increase revenue in a challenging yet improving economic environment, we continue to take steps to control expenses. We expect to see the results of some recent activity on this front as we progress through the fourth quarter and head into next year.”

Capital Structure — Lower Debt and Strong Cash Flow Generation

During the third quarter, the Company completed the redemption of $20 million of its 8.625% senior subordinated notes. The Company also recently announced the planned redemption of the remaining $16 million of its 4.25% convertible notes. Mr. Smith commented, “The $49 million of debt repurchases which we will have completed this year will save us $3.5 million in annual cash interest expense. We expect to use our excess cash flow from operations to further reduce our non-mortgage debt over the next several years. At the same time, we expect to continue to replace our leased dealerships with mortgaged properties as the opportunity arises. With the internal growth opportunities we see in our portfolio maximization strategy, we expect to drive future revenue and profit growth without the risk and capital commitment associated with dealership acquisitions.”

New and Used Retail Vehicles — Combined Revenue Increases 9%

New vehicle retail revenue increased 4% and used vehicle retail revenue increased 20% for the third quarter of 2010 compared to the same quarter last year. Jeff Dyke, the Company’s EVP of Operations, stated, “We are pleased with the growth in our new vehicle revenue given that our strong import and luxury brand mix benefited in such a big way from the Cash for Clunkers program last year. Our 20% growth in used vehicle revenue was fueled by 15% volume growth along with a 5% increase in the average selling price. Every quarter we move closer to our near-term goal of 100 used vehicles per store per month. We have seen our average grow by approximately 30 vehicles per dealership since we started this process. Increasing that average at each dealership by another 25 vehicles per month would add over $600 million in annual revenue based on this quarter’s average selling price. That’s why we remain convinced that our focus on portfolio maximization and internal growth is the right strategy at this point in our Company’s evolution.”

Service, Parts & Body Shop — Revenue Growth Continues in Key Profit Center

Sonic’s Service, Parts & Body Shop revenue for the third quarter was up nearly 6% compared to the prior year quarter. Mr. Dyke stated, “Our customer pay business was up 4% and we saw some stabilization in our warranty repair business. We have seen steady growth in this high margin piece of our business all year and, if these trends continue, our current group of stores is on track to deliver their highest annual fixed operations gross profit. We have several exciting pilot programs underway to drive more customer traffic in this key area of our business.”

Presentation materials for the Company’s October 26, 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 page.

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 call ID # 15968314

About Sonic Automotive

Sonic Automotive, Inc., a Fortune 500 company based in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the nation’s largest automotive retailers. Sonic can be reached on the web at www.sonicautomotive.com.

Included herein are forward-looking statements, including statements with respect to future success and impacts from the implementation of our various operational playbooks, future expense reductions, future cash flow generation, growth opportunities, future debt retirement and mortgage activity and future used vehicle and fixed operations sales and gross profit trends. 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 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 June 30, 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
		9/30/2010				Adjustments				9/30/2010				9/30/2009				Adjustments				9/30/2009
Revenues
New retail vehicles		$	886,355			$	—			$	886,355			$	854,902			$	—			$	854,902
Fleet vehicles			51,354				—				51,354				48,814				—				48,814
Total new vehicles			937,709				—				937,709				903,716				—				903,716
Used vehicles			453,815				—				453,815				379,389				—				379,389
Wholesale vehicles			47,597				—				47,597				34,588				—				34,588
Total vehicles			1,439,121				—				1,439,121				1,317,693				—				1,317,693
Parts, service and collision repair			283,741				—				283,741				268,801				—				268,801
Finance, insurance and other			47,398				—				47,398				43,403				—				43,403
Total revenues			1,770,260				—				1,770,260				1,629,897				—				1,629,897
Total gross profit			281,799				—				281,799				274,303				—				274,303
SG&A expenses			(226,331	)			—				(226,331	)			(214,140	)			—				(214,140	)
Impairment charges			(87	)			87				—				(620	)			620				—
Depreciation			(8,731	)			—				(8,731	)			(8,131	)			—				(8,131	)
Operating income			46,650				87				46,737				51,412				620				52,032
Interest expense, floor plan			(5,430	)			—				(5,430	)			(4,533	)			—				(4,533	)
Interest expense, other, net			(15,226	)			—				(15,226	)			(18,277	)			1,678				(16,599	)
Interest expense, non-cash, convertible debt			(1,768	)			—				(1,768	)			7,818				(11,400	)			(3,582	)
Interest expense, non-cash, cash flow swaps			(1,484	)			1,484				—				(2,180	)			2,180				—
Other (expense) / income, net			(351	)			403				52				2,449				(2,453	)			(4	)
Income / (loss) from continuing operations before taxes			22,391				1,974				24,365				36,689				(9,375	)			27,314
Income tax (expense) / benefit			(8,442	)			(744	)			(9,186	)			(16,510	)			4,218				(12,292	)
Income / (loss) from continuing operations			13,949				1,230				15,179				20,179				(5,157	)			15,022
Income / (Loss) from discontinued operations			(964	)			—				(964	)			(4,585	)			2,332				(2,253	)
Net income		$	12,985			$	1,230			$	14,215			$	15,594			$	(2,825	)		$	12,769
Diluted:
Weighted average common shares outstanding			65,851				—				65,851				63,195				—				63,195
Earnings / (loss) per share from continuing operations		$	0.25			$	0.02			$	0.27			$	0.24			$	0.02			$	0.26
Earnings / (loss) per share from discontinued operations			(0.02	)			—				(0.02	)			(0.07	)			0.04				(0.03	)
Earnings / (loss) per share		$	0.23			$	0.02			$	0.25			$	0.17			$	0.06			$	0.23
Gross Margin Data (Continuing Operations):
Retail new vehicles			6.6	%							6.6	%			7.3	%							7.3	%
Fleet vehicles			3.1	%							3.1	%			2.9	%							2.9	%
Total new vehicles			6.4	%							6.4	%			7.0	%							7.0	%
Used vehicles retail			7.8	%							7.8	%			8.5	%							8.5	%
Total vehicles retail			7.5	%							7.5	%			7.2	%							7.2	%
Wholesale vehicles			(3.1	%)							(3.1	%)			(4.7	%)							(4.7	%)
Parts, service and collision repair			49.6	%							49.6	%			50.9	%							50.9	%
Finance, insurance and other			100.0	%							100.0	%			100.0	%							100.0	%
Overall gross margin			15.9	%							15.9	%			16.8	%							16.8	%
SG&A Expenses (Continuing Operations):
Personnel		$	132,316			$	—			$	132,316			$	125,438			$	—			$	125,438
Advertising			12,642				—				12,642				11,345				—				11,345
Rent and rent related			32,743				—				32,743				33,413				—				33,413
Other			48,630				—				48,630				43,944				—				43,944
Total		$	226,331			$	—			$	226,331			$	214,140			$	—			$	214,140
SG&A Expenses as % of Gross Profit			80.3	%							80.3	%			78.1	%							78.1	%
Operating Margin %			2.6	%							2.6	%			3.2	%							3.2	%
Unit Data (Continuing Operations):
New retail units			25,780												27,100
Fleet units			2,020												1,975
New units			27,800												29,075
Used units			22,987												20,097
Total units retailed			50,787												49,172
Wholesale units			7,272												6,929
Other Data:
Continuing Operations revenue percentage changes:
New retail			3.7	%											(12.9	%)
Fleet			5.2	%											3.8	%
Total New Vehicles			3.8	%											(12.1	%)
Used			19.6	%											14.8	%
Parts, service and collision repair			5.6	%											(2.2	%)
Finance, insurance and other			9.2	%											(6.0	%)
Total			8.6	%											(6.9	%)
		2010								2009
Description of Adjustments:
Continuing Operations:
Mark-to-market on cash flow swaps		$	1,484							$	2,180
Debt restructuring charges			403								(775	)
Mark-to-market on derivative liability			—								(11,400	)
PP&E impairments			87								413
Goodwill impairments			—								207
Total pretax		$	1,974							$	(9,375	)
Tax effect			(744	)							4,218
Total		$	1,230							$	(5,157	)
Discontinued Operations:
Lease exit accruals		$	—							$	4,350
Tax effect			—								(2,018	)
Total		$	—							$	2,332

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

		Nine Months Ended												Nine Months Ended
		As Reported								As Adjusted				As Reported								As Adjusted
		9/30/2010				Adjustments				9/30/2010				9/30/2009				Adjustments				9/30/2009
Revenues
New retail vehicles		$	2,463,139			$	—			$	2,463,139			$	2,203,046			$	—			$	2,203,046
Fleet vehicles			148,849				—				148,849				164,190				—				164,190
Total new vehicles			2,611,988				—				2,611,988				2,367,236				—				2,367,236
Used vehicles			1,339,323				—				1,339,323				1,081,855				—				1,081,855
Wholesale vehicles			108,336				—				108,336				105,451				—				105,451
Total vehicles			4,059,647				—				4,059,647				3,554,542				—				3,554,542
Parts, service and collision repair			842,697				—				842,697				807,556				—				807,556
Finance, insurance and other			133,607				—				133,607				116,558				—				116,558
Total revenues			5,035,951				—				5,035,951				4,478,656				—				4,478,656
Total gross profit			830,153				—				830,153				776,263				—				776,263
SG&A expenses			(672,542	)			647				(671,895	)			(619,560	)			—				(619,560	)
Impairment charges			(132	)			132				—				(5,707	)			5,707				—
Depreciation			(25,729	)			—				(25,729	)			(23,865	)			—				(23,865	)
Operating income			131,750				779				132,529				127,131				5,707				132,838
Interest expense, floor plan			(15,615	)			—				(15,615	)			(14,925	)			—				(14,925	)
Interest expense, other, net			(48,024	)			1,464				(46,560	)			(57,998	)			10,833				(47,165	)
Interest expense, non-cash, convertible debt			(5,175	)			—				(5,175	)			1,556				(11,300	)			(9,744	)
Interest expense, non-cash, cash flow swaps			(5,402	)			5,402				—				(5,359	)			5,359				—
Other (expense) / income, net			(7,522	)			7,662				140				2,519				(2,453	)			66
Income / (loss) from continuing operations before taxes			50,012				15,307				65,319				52,924				8,146				61,070
Income tax (expense) / benefit			(19,905	)			(6,092	)			(25,997	)			(23,816	)			(3,666	)			(27,482	)
Income / (loss) from continuing operations			30,107				9,215				39,322				29,108				4,480				33,588
Income / (Loss) from discontinued operations			(4,532	)			—				(4,532	)			(11,810	)			4,771				(7,039	)
Net income		$	25,575			$	9,215			$	34,790			$	17,298			$	9,251			$	26,549
Diluted:
Weighted average common shares outstanding			65,711				—				65,711				52,529				—				52,529
Earnings / (loss) per share from continuing operations		$	0.56			$	0.13			$	0.69			$	0.48			$	0.21			$	0.69
Earnings / (loss) per share from discontinued operations			(0.07	)			0.01				(0.06	)			(0.22	)			0.09				(0.13	)
Earnings / (loss) per share		$	0.49			$	0.14			$	0.63			$	0.26			$	0.30			$	0.56
Gross Margin Data (Continuing Operations):
Retail new vehicles			6.8	%							6.8	%			7.0	%							7.0	%
Fleet vehicles			2.8	%							2.8	%			3.6	%							3.6	%
Total new vehicles			6.6	%							6.6	%			6.8	%							6.8	%
Used vehicles retail			8.0	%							8.0	%			8.8	%							8.8	%
Total vehicles retail			7.1	%							7.1	%			7.4	%							7.4	%
Wholesale vehicles			(3.6	%)							(3.6	%)			(2.7	%)							(2.7	%)
Parts, service and collision repair			50.0	%							50.0	%			50.4	%							50.4	%
Finance, insurance and other			100.0	%							100.0	%			100.0	%							100.0	%
Overall gross margin			16.5	%							16.5	%			17.3	%							17.3	%
SG&A Expenses (Continuing Operations):
Personnel		$	396,067			$	—			$	396,067			$	355,238			$	—			$	355,238
Advertising			36,445				—				36,445				32,934				—				32,934
Rent and rent related			98,226				—				98,226				97,703				—				97,703
Other			141,804				(647	)			141,157				133,685				—				133,685
Total		$	672,542			$	(647	)		$	671,895			$	619,560			$	—			$	619,560
SG&A Expenses as % of Gross Profit			81.0	%							80.9	%			79.8	%							79.8	%
Operating Margin %			2.6	%							2.6	%			2.8	%							3.0	%
Unit Data (Continuing Operations):
New retail units			71,809												67,782
Fleet units			6,042												6,802
New units			77,851												74,584
Used units			68,861												57,457
Total units retailed			146,712												132,041
Wholesale units			17,627												18,635
Other Data:
Continuing Operations revenue percentage changes:
New retail			11.8	%											(26.5	%)
Fleet			(9.3	%)											(38.8	%)
Total New Vehicles			10.3	%											(27.5	%)
Used			23.8	%											2.4	%
Parts, service and collision repair			4.4	%											(4.1	%)
Finance, insurance and other			14.6	%											(21.6	%)
Total			12.4	%											(19.2	%)
		2010								2009
Description of Adjustments:
Continuing Operations:
Hail damage		$	647							$	—
Mark-to-market on cash flow swaps			5,402								5,359
(Gain) / loss on extinguishment of debt			7,662								(2,453	)
Debt restructuring charges			—								10,833
Mark-to-market on derivative liability			—								(11,300	)
PP&E impairments			132								2,513
Franchise asset impairments			—								2,100
Goodwill impairments			—								1,094
Double-carry debt interest charges			1,464								—
Total pretax		$	15,307							$	8,146
Tax effect			(6,092	)							(3,666	)
Total		$	9,215							$	4,480
Discontinued Operations:
Lease exit accruals		$	—							$	4,350
PP&E impairments			—								1,822
Goodwill impairment			—								1,586
Total pretax		$	—							$	7,758
Tax effect			—								(2,987	)
Total		$	—							$	4,771