In Pixar’s Cars 3, who owns the Rust-eze racing team?

Sterling owns the Rust-eze racing team in Pixar’s Cars 3.

Sterling is introduced as a wealthy businessman who acquires Rust-eze from its original founders, Rusty and Dusty Rust-eze. He offers Lightning McQueen a chance to continue racing, but his support is tied to the team’s commercial interests and performance.

When Lightning struggles against the faster next-generation racers, Sterling pressures him to retire and become a brand ambassador. Lightning instead negotiates for one final chance to compete, leading to his training partnership with Cruz Ramirez.

Sterling is not the same character as Tex Dinoco, who owns the Dinoco racing brand and appears in the earlier films. Rust-eze is Lightning’s sponsor in the series, while Dinoco is a separate team and sponsor with its own distinctive blue-and-orange branding.