In Pixar's Cars, the veteran racer who once won three Piston Cups is Doc Hudson.
Doc lives in Radiator Springs as the town's judge and doctor, but Lightning McQueen eventually discovers that he was once a famous racing champion. Doc won three Piston Cups in the 1950s, including the 1951, 1952, and 1953 seasons. His career ended after a serious crash and an unkind response from the racing world left him disillusioned.
Doc's historical identity explains his harsh attitude toward Lightning's celebrity-driven approach to racing. He recognizes that winning is not the same as earning respect or building lasting relationships. The character is modeled in part on the Hudson Hornet, a real automobile associated with early NASCAR success. Paul Newman voiced Doc in Cars, making the role one of the actor's notable late voice performances.