In Pixar's Cars, what championship trophy does Lightning McQueen seek?

Lightning McQueen seeks the Piston Cup championship in Pixar's Cars.

At the beginning of the film, Lightning is a rookie contender in the Piston Cup season. He ties with Chick Hicks and The King in the championship standings, leading to a three-way tiebreaker race in California. Lightning's obsession with winning the trophy helps explain why he initially ignores his team and treats Radiator Springs as an unwanted delay.

The Piston Cup is a fictional stock-car racing championship inspired by NASCAR. Its name also references the piston, a fundamental engine component and a fitting symbol for a car-racing series. The trophy becomes less important to Lightning as he learns about friendship and sportsmanship.

Cars 2 and Cars 3 use different competition structures and opponents, so the Piston Cup should not be confused with the World Grand Prix in Cars 2. The Piston Cup is the central championship of the original film.