In Pixar's Cars 3 (2017), who becomes Lightning McQueen's race trainer?

In Pixar's Cars 3 (2017), Cruz Ramirez becomes Lightning McQueen's race trainer.

Cruz is assigned to train McQueen at the Rust-eze Racing Center after Jackson Storm's arrival exposes the veteran racer's declining competitiveness. She initially relies on modern equipment, data, and structured exercises, while McQueen resists methods he sees as disconnected from traditional racing.

Their relationship changes when McQueen asks to leave the center and pursue practical training. Cruz accompanies him through dirt-track practice and a demolition derby, where her own racing ability becomes increasingly clear. The film reveals that Cruz has always wanted to race but had been pushed toward coaching instead.

Cruz is not merely McQueen's assistant. By the conclusion, she becomes a major competitor and carries forward his number and legacy in the Piston Cup. She is distinct from Sally Carrera, McQueen's romantic partner, and Holley Shiftwell, the spy introduced in Cars 2.