In Pixar’s Cars 3, which driver replaces Lightning McQueen as the Dinoco racer?

In Pixar’s Cars 3, Cruz Ramirez replaces Lightning McQueen as the Dinoco racer.

Cruz begins the film as McQueen’s high-tech trainer at the Rust-eze Racing Center. Although she is initially assigned to help him prepare for the season, her own racing ability becomes increasingly important as McQueen struggles against the younger champion Jackson Storm.

Near the end of the film, McQueen gives Cruz the opportunity to race for him. She wins the Florida 500, and the Dinoco sponsorship passes to her as the event’s winner. McQueen then takes on a new role connected with Smokey and the Hudson Hornet’s legacy.

Cruz is not the same character as Sally Carrera, who is McQueen’s friend and romantic partner. Dinoco is also not McQueen’s original sponsor: Rust-eze sponsors him at the beginning of the movie.