In Pixar’s Cars, what racing trophy do Lightning McQueen and Chick Hicks compete to win?

In Pixar’s Cars, Lightning McQueen and Chick Hicks compete to win the Piston Cup.

The Piston Cup is the championship trophy at the center of the film’s opening and closing races. Lightning, Chick Hicks, and veteran champion Strip Weathers finish tied in points after the season, so a tiebreaker race is arranged at the Los Angeles International Speedway.

Lightning views the cup as proof that he can succeed without help. His single-minded pursuit of the title leads to the incident that strands him in Radiator Springs. By the final race, however, he has learned that winning is not the only measure of achievement.

The fictional competition echoes American stock-car racing, especially the prominence of season championships and sponsor-backed teams. The Piston Cup should not be confused with the World Grand Prix, which is the international event central to Cars 2. Pixar also uses Piston Cup references for racing history and sponsorship throughout the series.