In Pixar's Cars, the racers compete for the Piston Cup in the final race.
The Piston Cup is the championship prize in the film's stock-car racing world. Lightning McQueen, Chick Hicks, and Strip “The King” Weathers finish the season tied for the lead, so the three drivers take part in a decisive race at the Los Angeles International Speedway.
The trophy is a fictional creation, but its name and presentation evoke American stock-car racing. The movie uses the championship to establish Lightning's original goal: he wants the title, the sponsorship, and the fame associated with winning it.
The final race changes that goal. Lightning gives up a chance to win when he stops to help The King after Chick causes a crash. Chick still receives the trophy, but Lightning earns respect and a new understanding of sportsmanship. The Piston Cup returns as a major competition in later films.