In Pixar’s Cars 3, Jackson Storm becomes the new Piston Cup champion after Lightning McQueen’s crash.
Storm is a next-generation race car whose speed and advanced engineering make him the dominant competitor at the beginning of the film. His rise pushes McQueen to question whether an older racer can still compete against younger cars designed with modern technology.
McQueen’s serious crash occurs during a race against Storm. Afterward, McQueen returns to competition with training from Cruz Ramirez and guidance inspired by Doc Hudson. The story eventually shifts the focus from simply defeating Storm to understanding how McQueen can shape the future of racing.
Jackson Storm is voiced by Armie Hammer in the English version. He should not be confused with Chick Hicks, who is McQueen’s major rival in the original Cars film. Storm belongs to the newer generation introduced in Cars 3, while Chick is an established Piston Cup competitor from the earlier story.