In Pixar's Cars, which real racing legend voices Strip Weathers, known as The King?

In Pixar's Cars, Richard Petty voices Strip Weathers, known as The King.

Strip Weathers is the veteran Piston Cup champion whose nickname and appearance draw heavily on Petty's real racing career. Petty was one of NASCAR's most successful drivers, winning the Daytona 500 seven times and the NASCAR Cup Series championship seven times.

The King serves as an important contrast to Lightning McQueen. He represents experience, sportsmanship, and a long-established legacy, while McQueen begins the film focused mainly on personal fame and winning. The character's final race also connects McQueen's choices to the broader tradition of stock-car racing.

Richard Petty's participation gives the film a direct link to NASCAR culture. Audiences sometimes choose Dale Earnhardt Jr. or Jeff Gordon because both also have strong NASCAR associations and appear in the Cars franchise, but Petty is the voice of The King in the first film.