In Pixar’s Cars 3, which city is associated with Doc Hudson’s racing past?

In Pixar’s Cars 3, Thomasville is associated with Doc Hudson’s racing past.

Lightning McQueen travels to Thomasville while researching Doc’s career and seeking help against the newer generation of racers. The town is connected to Doc’s former crew chief, Smokey, and to the racing traditions that shaped the Hudson Hornet’s early success.

Thomasville gives Lightning access to a history that he had not fully understood. Smokey explains that Doc’s career changed after a serious crash and that racing had once again become meaningful to him through his friendship with Lightning.

The film contrasts Thomasville’s old racing culture with the high-tech Rust-eze Racing Center. Its scenes help Lightning discover a strategy that combines Doc’s experience with his own willingness to adapt.