In Pixar's Cars, retired champion Doc Hudson reveals that he is Radiator Springs' town doctor.
Doc first appears as the stern judge who sentences Lightning McQueen to repair the damaged road. Lightning initially sees him only as an old local car, but later discovers that Doc once had a celebrated racing career. The revelation gives the town's quiet doctor a much larger history.
Doc Hudson was a 1951 Hudson Hornet, a model associated with the real-life Hudson Hornet's success in early stock-car racing. In the film's fictional history, Doc won three Piston Cups and was named Rookie of the Year before a serious crash ended his career. He felt forgotten when the racing world moved on.
Paul Newman provided Doc's voice in Cars and Cars 3. Doc's past explains why he resists Lightning's arrogance, while his mentorship helps Lightning become a more considerate competitor.