In Pixar's Cars, Doc Hudson is the town's retired racing champion and doctor.
Doc lives in Radiator Springs and initially hides his former identity from Lightning McQueen. He is revealed to have been the Fabulous Hudson Hornet, a celebrated racer who won three Piston Cups before a serious crash ended his racing career.
The character combines two roles in the town. He is the local judge, and he also operates as a physician who helps residents and visitors. His guarded attitude comes from being forgotten by the racing world after his accident.
Doc Hudson was voiced by Paul Newman, whose career as an actor and racing enthusiast helped shape the character's appeal. The design is based on the real Hudson Hornet, a 1950s American car famous for its “step-down” construction and success in stock-car racing. Doc's racing history is therefore fictional, but the vehicle inspiration is real.