Smokey becomes Lightning McQueen’s primary mentor in Pixar’s Cars 3 through memories of Doc Hudson.
After McQueen struggles against Jackson Storm, he travels to Thomasville, Georgia, with Cruz Ramirez. There he meets Smokey, an older mechanic and former racer who knew Doc Hudson before Doc became a champion. Smokey explains that Doc’s career ended painfully, but his connection with McQueen helped him rediscover purpose.
Smokey trains McQueen using techniques connected to Doc’s racing past, including practice on dirt and lessons about adapting rather than simply chasing speed. He also helps McQueen understand that Doc’s legacy is not limited to trophies.
Smokey is voiced by Chris Cooper and appears as one of the film’s links to the earlier story. He is not a member of McQueen’s usual Radiator Springs circle, which makes his knowledge of Doc especially important.