By the end of Pixar's Cars 3, Lightning McQueen has won seven Piston Cup championships. The achievement is confirmed when he takes on a new role in the racing world after helping Cruz Ramirez.
Lightning begins the film as an established champion facing a younger generation of competitors. Jackson Storm's success makes Lightning question whether his experience is enough to remain competitive, and the pressure eventually leads him to rethink his training and career.
The number seven is important because Lightning's identity has long been tied to winning races and collecting championships. Cars 3 shifts the emphasis from simply adding another victory to deciding how a veteran racer can use his knowledge to support someone else.
Cruz's success and Lightning's decision to continue racing under a new arrangement provide the film's resolution. The result is a continuation of Doc Hudson's legacy: Lightning becomes a mentor while still retaining his place as a champion. Cars 3 was released in 2017.