OKLAHOMA CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The SONIC® Drive-In (NASDAQ: SONC) crew of the SONIC Drive-In on Highway 231 in Hazel Green took home the gold medal at this year's annual DR PEPPER SONIC GAMES, a nine-month competition and training program recognizing the best SONIC Drive-In crews across the country. The Hazel Green team competed against eleven other finalist teams at the national finals during the recent 2016 SONIC Convention in Nashville, Tenn., where the gold-medal crew was celebrated by thousands of SONIC employees.

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DR PEPPER SONIC GAMES 2016 Winner (Photo: Business Wire)

"The Hazel Green crew really delivered in this competition, exemplifying the dedication, professionalism and attitude we aim for at SONIC. This is the drive-in crew’s first time to the Final 12 stage of the competition, all under the leadership of one inspiring manager who has taken other drive-ins five times prior, so we are very pleased to award them the gold medal this year,” said Rachael Kelly-Marcus, senior director of learning and development for SONIC. “Every year the DR PEPPER SONIC GAMES competition raises the bar, with all Final 12 teams giving their best in accuracy, food quality, operational execution and terrific guest service. This winning crew went above and beyond, showing the judges remarkable mastery of their training and an impressive energy for the SONIC culture."

For the past 23 years, SONIC Drive-In crews have competed in the DR PEPPER SONIC GAMES to test their expertise in areas including food and drink preparation and food delivery. This year's competition spanned nine months and involved more than 20 thousand crew members from 2,950 SONIC Drive-Ins from around the nation.

“Our crew showed great dedication and worked extremely hard in the GAMES, and we are all proud to be the gold-medal winners this year,” said Hazel Green franchisee Robert Rubel. "The DR PEPPER SONIC GAMES offer an incredible opportunity to train and motivate our crew members, and we can’t wait to take this enthusiasm and momentum back to our drive-in to better serve our guests.”

“Dr Pepper® has been a proud sponsor of the DR PEPPER SONIC GAMES for more than 20 years. This winning crew worked extremely hard to get here, and their enthusiasm for the process makes this a rewarding partnership for us. We are honored to be a part of SONIC’s commitment to making every guest experience memorable,” said Blaine Wood, director of sales for Dr Pepper.

About SONIC, America's Drive-In

SONIC, America's Drive-In is the nation's largest drive-in restaurant chain serving more than 3 million customers every day. Nearly 90 percent of SONIC's 3,500 drive-in locations are owned and operated by local business men and women. Over more than 60 years, SONIC has delighted guests with signature menu items, more than 1.3 million drink combinations and friendly service by iconic Carhops. Since the 2009 launch of SONIC's Limeades for Learning philanthropic campaign in partnership with DonorsChoose.org, SONIC has donated more than $6 million to public school teachers nationwide to fund essential learning materials and innovative teaching resources to inspire creativity and learning. In May 2016, SONIC significantly increased its financial commitment to Limeades for Learning, pledging $15 million to the cause through 2021. To learn more about Sonic Corp. (NASDAQ/NM: SONC), please visit sonicdrivein.com and please visit or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. To learn more about SONIC's Limeades for Learning initiative, please visit Limeadesforlearning.com.

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