In Pixar's Cars 3, Lightning McQueen visits Smokey for advice about Doc Hudson.
After struggling against the younger Jackson Storm, McQueen searches for information about his former mentor. Smokey is connected to Doc's racing past and lives in Thomasville, a community associated with the old racing circuit. He explains how Doc recovered from his own career-ending crash and later helped other racers.
Smokey's guidance changes McQueen's understanding of Doc. Instead of seeing Hudson only as a retired champion, McQueen learns about the older racer's years as a crew chief and mentor. That history helps McQueen find a new way to compete and to pass knowledge on to Cruz Ramirez.
Smokey is not one of the familiar Radiator Springs residents from the first film. The King and Chick Hicks are former Piston Cup competitors, while Luigi is an Italian tire-shop owner. Smokey's role is specifically tied to Doc Hudson's earlier racing life.