In Pixar's Cars 3, who owns the Dinoco racing team?

Tex Dinoco owns the Dinoco racing team in Pixar's Cars 3.

Tex is a wealthy Texas oil magnate and the owner of the Dinoco brand. He is also associated with the iconic blue Dinoco paint scheme, first seen in the series through the retired champion Strip Weathers, better known as The King.

At the end of Cars, Tex wins the right to sponsor Lightning McQueen after the Piston Cup race. In Cars 3, Tex becomes important to the Rust-eze team after buying Rust-eze from Sterling. This arrangement allows Lightning to continue racing while Cruz Ramirez takes on a larger competitive role.

Strip Weathers is Dinoco's legendary racer, not its owner. Sterling runs the Rust-eze Racing Center, and Smokey is a mentor in Thomasville. These different roles explain why the names are sometimes mixed up.