In Pixar's Cars, Doc Hudson is the retired Piston Cup champion who runs a garage in Radiator Springs. He initially hides his racing past from Lightning McQueen, but his experience becomes central to McQueen's improvement.
Doc was once known as the Fabulous Hudson Hornet. The character is modeled on the real Hudson Hornet, a car that achieved major success in early stock-car racing. In the film's backstory, Doc suffered a serious crash and was ignored after newer racers replaced him, which explains his guarded attitude toward racing and publicity.
Doc's connection to McQueen changes after McQueen learns to respect the town and its residents. Doc becomes his crew chief and helps him prepare for the Piston Cup finale. The character's voice was provided by Paul Newman, whose real-life career as an actor and racing enthusiast added special resonance to the role.