In Pixar's Cars, Lightning McQueen and his rivals are competing to win the Piston Cup.
The Piston Cup is the film's fictional stock-car racing championship. The opening story centers on a three-way tie among Lightning, veteran racer Strip Weathers, and Chick Hicks, requiring a deciding race in California.
The trophy and competition are modeled on American stock-car racing, especially NASCAR. Strip Weathers, known as The King, echoes the image of a respected veteran champion, while Chick Hicks represents a more aggressive rival.
The Piston Cup remains important across the series, although Cars 2 introduces the World Grand Prix and Cars 3 focuses on the challenge posed by next-generation racers. In the first film, however, the Piston Cup is the prize driving Lightning's ambition.