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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 OQgcjIOGlEOnLJZVkY53Zg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000903853-04-000001.txt : 20040123
<SEC-HEADER>0000903853-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040123
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040123114047
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000903853-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040121
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040123

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RICHARDSON FRANK E III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000903853

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-18859
		FILM NUMBER:		04539616

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		245 PARK AVE 41ST FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10167
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2124905930

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SONIC CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000868611
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				731371046
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0831

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		101 PARK AVENUE
		STREET 2:		STE 1400
		CITY:			OKLAHOMA CITY
		STATE:			OK
		ZIP:			73102-7202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4052807654

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		101 PARK AVE
		STREET 2:		14TH FLOOR
		CITY:			OKLAHOMA CITY
		STATE:			OK
		ZIP:			73102
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>richardson012104_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2004-01-21</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000868611</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SONIC CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SONC</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000903853</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RICHARDSON FRANK E III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>245 PARK AVE 41ST FL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10167</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Non-qualified stock option (right to buy)</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>33.50</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2004-01-21</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>4500</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2007-01-21</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2014-01-21</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>4500</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>4500</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
 </derivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> Stock options granted pursuant to the 2001 Sonic Corp. Directors Stock Option Plan</footnote>

      <footnote id="F2"> One-third of the options vest on each of the first three anniversary dates following the date of grant</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>/s/ Ronald L. Matlock for Frank E. Richardson</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2004-01-22</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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