Cruz Ramirez becomes a new Piston Cup racer after training with Lightning McQueen in Pixar’s Cars 3.
Cruz begins the film as Lightning’s high-performance trainer at the Rust-eze Racing Center. Although she has racing ability, she lacks confidence because her career has been shaped by expectations that she should remain a trainer rather than compete.
Lightning’s training journey with Cruz gradually changes both characters. He learns to adapt to newer techniques, while Cruz discovers that she can belong on the track herself. The film’s climax places Cruz in the racing spotlight and gives the story its generational handoff.
Cruz Ramirez is voiced by Cristela Alonzo. She is not the same character as Sally Carrera, Lightning’s friend and the owner of the Cozy Cone Motel in Radiator Springs.