In Pixar's Cars, which racer drives car number 43 and is known as The King?
Answer
Strip Weathers
Strip Weathers drives car number 43 and is known as The King in Pixar's Cars.
The King is a veteran Piston Cup racer and one of Lightning McQueen's principal rivals in the 2006 film. His car design is based on a Plymouth Superbird, a real American muscle car associated with high-speed stock-car racing in the early 1970s.
Strip's number 43 is a tribute to real NASCAR driver Richard Petty, whose famous racing number was 43. The King is not Richard Petty, but Petty provided the character's speaking voice in the English-language film, creating a direct connection between the fictional champion and stock-car history.
The King represents experience, sportsmanship, and long-term success. His final race with Lightning and Chick Hicks helps reveal the consequences of winning without integrity. Strip later appears in Cars 3 as a retired racing figure.