Route 66 is the route number shown on the road sign leading to Radiator Springs in Pixar's Cars.
The film uses Radiator Springs as a fictional town on the historic U.S. Route 66. Lightning McQueen reaches the town after leaving the highway and accidentally damaging the road. His community-service sentence forces him to remain there and repair the pavement before he can continue to the Piston Cup race.
Route 66 was a real U.S. highway that connected Chicago and Santa Monica. It was established in 1926 and removed from the United States Highway System in 1985. Although the route no longer exists as a federal highway, many sections survive as historic roads and tourist attractions.
Cars draws on Route 66 landmarks, landscapes, and roadside businesses. The highway reference is distinct from the Piston Cup competition and from Interstate 40, which replaced much of Route 66 for long-distance travel.