In Pixar’s Cars 3, Smokey is the veteran racer who trains Lightning McQueen.
Smokey lives in Thomasville, Georgia, a town connected to the racing history of Doc Hudson. When Lightning travels there, Smokey helps him understand that experience and strategy can matter as much as raw speed. The training includes dirt-track techniques and lessons drawn from Doc’s earlier career.
Smokey is not a replacement for Doc Hudson. Instead, he was Doc’s crew chief and close friend during Doc’s racing years. Through Smokey, Lightning learns more about Doc’s past and gains a better understanding of the mentor who helped him in the first Cars film.
Smokey is voiced by Chris Cooper. The film also introduces Louise Nash and Junior Moon, two other veteran racers from Doc’s era. They provide historical context, but Smokey is the character who directly guides Lightning’s preparation for his next challenge.