In Pixar’s Cars, which retired Piston Cup champion is secretly Doc Hudson?

In Pixar’s Cars, Doc Hudson is the retired Piston Cup champion known as the Hudson Hornet.

Doc initially presents himself as Radiator Springs’ local judge and doctor, hiding his celebrated racing past from Lightning McQueen. He was a three-time Piston Cup champion and a famous competitor before a crash ended his racing career. His experiences make him skeptical of Lightning’s impatient, publicity-driven attitude.

The Hudson Hornet name refers to the real Hudson Hornet automobile, a 1950s American car noted for its racing success. Pixar used that history to give Doc a plausible motorsport background rather than making him an entirely invented racing machine.

Doc’s identity is sometimes mixed up with The King, who is another Piston Cup champion in the film. The King is a modern blue race car, while Doc is the older Hudson Hornet whose racing number was 51.