Rust-eze sponsors Lightning McQueen in Pixar’s Cars.
Rust-eze is a fictional automotive product company whose founders, Rusty and Dusty Rust-eze, support Lightning at the beginning of his racing career. Its sponsorship is represented by the familiar Rust-eze logo and the company’s rusty-bumper product.
Lightning initially dislikes the Rust-eze association because he wants the prestigious Dinoco sponsorship. However, his relationship with the Rust-eze team becomes important as the story develops, and the company remains connected to him throughout the franchise.
Dinoco is a major source of confusion because it is also a prominent fictional racing brand in Cars. The key distinction is that Lightning begins the first film as a Rust-eze racer, while Dinoco is the sponsorship he hopes to win.