Doc Hudson becomes Lightning McQueen's chief mechanic and mentor in Pixar's Cars.
Doc is the local physician and judge in Radiator Springs, but he secretly has a remarkable racing past. He was the Fabulous Hudson Hornet, a three-time Piston Cup champion who disappeared from racing after a serious crash and the sport's loss of interest in him.
When McQueen arrives, Doc dislikes the rookie's arrogance and initially refuses to help him. Their relationship changes after McQueen works on the town's road and shows respect for its residents. Doc eventually trains him, teaching him to use the track, terrain, and controlled drifting more intelligently.
Paul Newman voices Doc Hudson in Cars, making the role especially notable because Newman was also a celebrated race-car driver and racing enthusiast. Doc's story is loosely connected to the real Hudson Hornet, a car associated with early stock-car racing success. He does not appear as a speaking character in Cars 2, following Newman's death in 2008.