Lightning McQueen helps repair Route 66 in Pixar's Cars.
The road is the reason Radiator Springs became an important stop before a newer interstate bypassed the town. After Lightning damages the local road during his escape, Judge Doc Hudson sentences him to repave it before leaving.
Route 66 was a real U.S. highway established in 1926. It connected Chicago and Santa Monica and became strongly associated with road travel, roadside businesses, and popular American culture. The real highway was removed from the U.S. Highway System in 1985, although many historic sections remain.
Cars uses a fictional town and fictional characters, but its roadside setting draws on real Route 66 locations and visual research. The route should not be confused with Interstate 40, the newer road that causes Radiator Springs to lose traffic.