In Pixar’s Cars 3, Cruz Ramirez wins the Florida 500 after Lightning McQueen hands over the race.
Lightning begins the race intending to prove that he can still compete with the younger Jackson Storm. After a difficult start, he changes strategy and allows Cruz to take his place. Cruz uses the opportunity to race Storm and wins the Florida 500, establishing herself as a top competitor.
The ending also changes Lightning’s role. Rather than simply returning to his earlier position, he becomes Cruz’s mentor and continues racing selectively. The story therefore treats victory as a shared achievement and emphasizes the value of passing experience to a new generation.
Cruz is voiced by Cristela Alonzo. She is sometimes confused with Natalie Certain, the statistical analyst who provides racing information, but Natalie does not compete in the Florida 500.