The SONIC America’s Drive-In Battle of I-10 Continues

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The long-running I-10 rivalry series between New Mexico State University (NM State) and the University of Texas – El Paso (UTEP) will bear the name of SONIC® ® America’s Drive-In® for the second straight year. SONIC®, America’s Drive-In® was announced as the title sponsor for the Battle of I-10 in 2010.

The Aggies won the inaugural SONIC® America’s Drive-In® Battle of I-10 fan contest.

?SONIC is thrilled to be a part of this great rivalry for the second straight year, and we are excited about all the support from UTEP and NMSU fans,? said Donna Volz, senior marketing director for the Merritt Group, which owns and operates SONIC Drive-ins in El Paso and Las Cruces. ?We are adding new voting elements and procedures this year in hopes of generating even greater participation.?

The two-year partnership between the neighboring universities and the popular restaurant will encompass matchups in football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball. The Aggies and Miners will meet for the 89th time on the gridiron in Las Cruces on Sept. 17.

Beginning September 1st, fans will again have the opportunity to vote for their favorite team via each school’s athletic website. Fans can also vote by texting NMSU or UTEP to USONIC ? 876642. This year, fans will again have a chance to win SONIC® for a year and two season tickets to the 2012 NM State Football season.

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 and serves approximately 3 million customers every day. 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. Through Limeades for Learning®, SONIC and its franchise partners donated more than $638,000 dollars last year to public school classrooms in local communities across the country. Visit www.limeadesforlearning.com to learn more about SONIC’s commitment to education.

Source: NMSU Athletics