In Pixar's Cars, which fictional racing series awards the Piston Cup?

In Pixar's Cars, the Piston Cup is awarded in the Piston Cup Racing Series.

The series is the central stock-car competition in the first film. Lightning McQueen is a rookie contender, while Strip Weathers, known as The King, and Chick Hicks are established rivals. A three-way finale is arranged after the season ends with a tie.

The competition gives McQueen his initial goal: he wants to win the Piston Cup and secure a move to the Dinoco team. His journey changes when he is sent to Radiator Springs and learns that personal relationships and responsibility matter as much as trophies.

The Piston Cup is a fictional counterpart to American stock-car championships. Pixar uses recognizable racing features—sponsors, pit crews, race tracks, and televised competition—without presenting the film's series as a real-world league.