In Pixar's Cars 3, which championship does Lightning McQueen try to win?

In Pixar's Cars 3, Lightning McQueen tries to win the Piston Cup.

The Piston Cup is the fictional stock-car racing championship featured across the Cars series. In Cars 3, a new generation of technologically advanced racers threatens McQueen's career, especially Jackson Storm. McQueen begins training with Cruz Ramirez and attempts to prove that he can still compete at the highest level.

The cup is named after the fictional Piston Cup racing series rather than a real-world championship. It is the main competitive prize in Cars and Cars 3, while Cars 2 focuses on the international World Grand Prix.

The film also connects McQueen's challenge to the legacy of Doc Hudson. Doc had been a champion before becoming McQueen's mentor. This makes the Piston Cup more than a trophy: it represents McQueen's racing identity and his eventual decision to help a new generation.