In Pixar’s Cars 3, Cruz Ramirez helps Lightning McQueen prepare for the next generation of racers.
Cruz is introduced as a highly trained technician and racing coach at the Rust-eze Racing Center. She uses data, simulators, and modern fitness methods to help McQueen improve after rookie driver Jackson Storm exposes the limits of his older racing style.
Although Cruz initially believes she is not suited to race professionally, her knowledge and athletic ability become central to the story. A sequence at the Thomasville Speedway connects McQueen’s present-day training with the racing history of Doc Hudson and his former rival, Smokey.
Cruz is sometimes mistaken for McQueen’s replacement from the beginning of the film. In fact, McQueen remains the central racer for most of Cars 3, while Cruz’s role changes as the story develops. The film ultimately presents her as both a capable driver and part of McQueen’s legacy.