In Pixar's Cars, what is the name of the annual race Lightning McQueen hopes to win?

In Pixar's Cars, Lightning McQueen hopes to win the Piston Cup.

The Piston Cup is the fictional stock-car championship at the center of the first film's opening and ending. McQueen, Chick Hicks, and The King finish the season tied, so they compete in a final race at the Los Angeles International Speedway to decide the champion.

McQueen initially focuses almost entirely on winning the trophy and securing the Dinoco sponsorship associated with it. His time in Radiator Springs changes that outlook, and the climax emphasizes sportsmanship as much as the result of the race.

The Piston Cup is a fictional competition inspired by American stock-car racing. The Dinoco 400 is a race within the film's racing world, not the championship's name. The World Grand Prix belongs to Cars 2, while the Florida 500 is an important race in Cars 3. Keeping those events separate avoids a common franchise mix-up.