Smokey was Doc Hudson’s mentor during his racing career in Pixar’s Cars 3.
Lightning McQueen meets Smokey in Thomasville, a town connected to Doc Hudson’s past. Smokey explains that Doc had once been a talented racer but lost his desire to compete after a serious crash and the dismissive treatment he received from the racing world.
Smokey helped Doc rebuild his confidence and understand racing in a different way. This history allows Lightning to learn more about his former mentor and to see that Doc’s legacy was not limited to his race results. The lessons also help Lightning prepare for the next generation of competition.
Smokey is voiced by Chris Cooper. He is distinct from Louise Nash, another veteran racer connected to Doc’s training history, and from Junior Moon, a Thomasville racer who also knew Doc. Smokey’s importance is revealed in Cars 3 rather than the first two films.