Doc Hudson inspires Lightning McQueen's training journey in Pixar's Cars 3.
After Lightning suffers a serious crash against the younger Jackson Storm, he begins searching for a way to compete with the new generation. His effort leads him to learn more about Doc Hudson's racing career and the lessons Doc once tried to teach him.
Lightning visits Smokey and other former racers connected with Doc's past. Their stories show that Doc was not only a champion but also a racer whose career ended after a crash and whose disappointment shaped his later life in Radiator Springs. Understanding Doc helps Lightning rethink what a racing legacy means.
The King and Junior Moon are other historic racers in the Cars universe, but they are not the central mentor figure behind this particular journey. Smokey becomes an important direct source of information about Doc's training methods and history.