In Pixar’s Cars, Lightning McQueen is sentenced to repair the road in Radiator Springs.
After damaging the town’s main road while fleeing from Sheriff, McQueen is ordered by Judge Doc Hudson to remain in Radiator Springs and fix the surface. The punishment keeps him from immediately reaching the Piston Cup tiebreaker race in California.
Radiator Springs is a fictional town on historic U.S. Route 66. Its residents include Mater, Sally Carrera, Luigi, Guido, Flo, Ramone, and Fillmore. The town’s declining fortunes reflect the impact of a new interstate highway that diverts traffic away from Route 66.
A common mix-up is confusing Radiator Springs with Carburetor County. Carburetor County is the fictional county where the town is located, while Radiator Springs is the community McQueen helps restore.