In Pixar’s Cars 3, Smokey trains Lightning McQueen at the Thomasville dirt track.
Smokey is a former crew chief and mechanic who worked with Doc Hudson during Doc’s racing career. McQueen seeks him out after learning that Doc’s old training methods may help him compete against the highly technical Jackson Storm. Smokey teaches McQueen to use experience, adaptability, and racecraft rather than trying to imitate a younger car’s technology.
The Thomasville sequence also introduces members of Doc Hudson’s racing history, including Louise Nash and Junior Moon. Their stories show how Doc became a respected champion and why he eventually withdrew from racing after being pushed aside by newer competitors.
Doc Hudson is McQueen’s mentor in the original Cars, but he has died before the events of Cars 3. Louise Nash is a former racer, and Junior Moon is another Thomasville veteran. Smokey is the specific character who takes the active coaching role at the dirt track.