Doc Hudson is Lightning McQueen's retired mentor and former Hudson Hornet champion in Pixar's Cars movies.
Doc first appears in Cars as the town's respected physician and judge, but Lightning eventually discovers that he was once the Fabulous Hudson Hornet, a three-time Piston Cup champion. Doc's own racing career ended after a serious crash and the loss of public attention when newer racers arrived.
Cars 3 revisits Doc's legacy through Lightning's training and his relationship with Cruz Ramirez. Lightning studies old footage and learns that Doc's experience as a mentor can matter as much as his record as a driver. The film also introduces Smokey and other veterans connected to Doc's past.
Louise Nash and Junior Moon are historic racers from Doc's generation, while Smokey serves as a key mentor in Cars 3. They are not the retired Hudson Hornet himself. Doc's character combines a fictional racing history with the real Hudson Hornet's automotive identity.