Smokey inspires Lightning McQueen’s training in Pixar’s Cars 3.
Smokey is a former crew chief and mechanic associated with Doc Hudson’s racing past. McQueen meets him in Thomasville, Georgia, while searching for a way to compete with the faster next generation of racers.
Smokey explains how Doc recovered from professional disappointment by helping other racers. His advice encourages McQueen to stop chasing speed alone and instead understand the strengths, history, and instincts that made Doc successful.
The Thomasville sequence also introduces fictional versions of other veteran racers, including Louise Nash and Junior Moon. Smokey is voiced by Chris Cooper, while Doc Hudson’s earlier racing story connects Cars 3 directly to the emotional history established in the original film.