In Pixar's Cars 3, Lightning McQueen studies Doc Hudson to improve his racing technique.
After Jackson Storm’s rise exposes the limits of Lightning’s old approach, Lightning reconnects with Doc’s history. He travels to Thomasville, a town associated with Doc’s earlier racing career, and meets Smokey, Doc’s former crew chief. Smokey explains how Doc learned to adapt and why losing the race circuit affected him so deeply.
Lightning’s training draws on lessons from Doc’s experience rather than simply copying his speed. The process helps Lightning understand that a racer’s legacy can continue through teaching someone else. This insight becomes important during the film’s final race.
Strip “The King” Weathers is another legendary Piston Cup racer, but he is not the mentor Lightning studies in Cars 3. Chick Hicks is Lightning’s rival from the first film, while Smokey is the person who provides direct information about Doc’s past. These distinctions make Doc Hudson the specific answer.