Route 66 causes Lightning McQueen to enter Radiator Springs in Pixar’s Cars.
After escaping from Mack during a stop, Lightning becomes separated from the transport truck and ends up on the road. He damages Radiator Springs’ main street while trying to catch up, leading the town’s judge to order him to repair it before leaving.
The route is a fictionalized version of U.S. Route 66, the historic highway that once connected Chicago and Santa Monica. Cars uses the road’s cultural history to portray Radiator Springs as a community affected by the construction of a faster interstate highway.
Route 66 is sometimes called the Mother Road. In the film, it represents slower travel, roadside businesses, and personal encounters, contrasting with Lightning’s initial focus on speed and winning. The town’s survival depends on visitors rediscovering the old road.