Strip Weathers is nicknamed “The King” in Pixar’s Cars (2006).
The King is a veteran Piston Cup racer and one of the three cars involved in the deciding race after the championship ends in a tie. His calm professionalism contrasts with Lightning McQueen’s impatience and Chick Hicks’s aggressive behavior.
The character is modeled in part on the image of an established stock-car champion. In the English version, Richard Petty voices The King, an especially fitting casting choice because Petty is one of the most famous drivers in American stock-car racing and is known as “The King.”
The King’s blue race car design is associated with Dinoco, the prestigious fictional sponsor. His role is more than a rival’s: he represents the respected older generation of racers and helps McQueen understand that winning is not the only measure of a racing career.