In Pixar’s Cars 3, Tex Dinoco becomes Lightning McQueen’s race-team owner after Sterling takes control of Rust-eze.
Sterling initially owns the Rust-eze racing operation and wants Lightning to retire after a disappointing season. Lightning challenges that plan by attempting to defeat Jackson Storm, but his crash and later training lead him to reconsider what he wants from racing.
During the Florida International Super Speedway race, Cruz Ramirez takes Lightning’s place in the competition. After Cruz succeeds, Tex Dinoco buys Rust-eze from Sterling. The arrangement allows Lightning to support Cruz while also moving into a mentoring role connected with his own racing future.
Tex had already appeared in the first Cars film as the owner of the Dinoco brand. His return in Cars 3 links the franchise’s earlier racing history to the new generation represented by Cruz.