FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
SMITH DAVID BRUTON
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
SONIC AUTOMOTIVE INC [SAH] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director __X__ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Chairman and CEO
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
C/O SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC., 4401 COLWICK ROAD		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
08/24/2022
(Street)

CHARLOTTE, NC 28211		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Class A Common Stock 08/24/2022   M(1)   97,731 A $ 16.76 565,587 D  
Class A Common Stock 08/24/2022   S(1)   97,731 D $ 55.038 (2) 467,856 D  
Class A Common Stock 08/25/2022   M(1)   54,670 A $ 16.76 522,526 D  
Class A Common Stock 08/25/2022   S(1)   54,670 D $ 55.596 (3) 467,856 D  

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Options to purchase $ 16.76 08/24/2022   M(1)     97,731 04/10/2020(4) 04/10/2030 Class A Common Stock 97,731 $ 0 207,071 D  
Options to purchase $ 16.76 08/25/2022   M(1)     54,670 04/10/2020(4) 04/10/2030 Class A Common Stock 54,670 $ 0 152,401 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
SMITH DAVID BRUTON
C/O SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
4401 COLWICK ROAD
CHARLOTTE, NC 28211		   X   X   Chairman and CEO  

Signatures

 /s/ David Bruton Smith   08/26/2022
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Employee stock options exercised and corresponding shares sold pursuant to pre-established 10b5-1 Trading Plan.
(2) This transaction was executed in multiple trades at prices ranging from $55.00 per share to $55.31 per share. The price reported reflects the weighted average sales price. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, the issuer or a security holder of the issuer full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.
(3) This transaction was executed in multiple trades at prices ranging from $55.00 per share to $56.48 per share. The price reported reflects the weighted average sales price. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, the issuer or a security holder of the issuer full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.
(4) The date indicated is the grant date, and the options vest in three equal annual installments on the anniversary of the grant date, subject to continued employment requirements and compliance with certain restrictive covenants.

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