In Pixar’s Cars, Richard Petty voices Strip Weathers, also called The King.
Petty is one of the most famous drivers in NASCAR history, and his casting gives the veteran character an especially strong connection to American stock-car racing. Strip Weathers carries the nickname The King and drives car number 43, both details associated with Petty’s public racing identity.
The character is an established champion who faces the end of his competitive era during the Piston Cup finale. His presence helps place Lightning McQueen’s rise within a broader generational story about veteran experience and ambitious newcomers.
Richard Petty’s role is a voice performance, not a portrayal of himself as a human character. Cars uses anthropomorphic vehicles, but many of its racing personalities and voice actors connect the fictional competition with real motorsport history.