At the end of Pixar’s Cars 3, Cruz Ramirez races for the Rust-eze team against Jackson Storm.
Cruz begins Cars 3 as Lightning McQueen’s high-tech trainer at the Rust-eze Racing Center. Although she has racing talent, she initially lacks confidence because her career has been directed toward training rather than competition.
After learning about her dream of racing, Lightning gives Cruz his place in the final race against the next-generation racer Jackson Storm. Cruz changes her paint scheme to match the Rust-eze colors and enters the race as Lightning’s teammate and successor.
Lightning and Cruz share the track during the climax, and Cruz ultimately wins the race. Lightning then adopts a new role as her mentor. Cruz’s victory does not mean she replaces Lightning in every context; it specifically marks her emergence as a competitive racer and the continuation of Doc Hudson’s mentoring legacy.