In Pixar's Cars, Lightning McQueen helps veteran racer The King cross the finish line. The King, whose real name is Strip Weathers, is a respected Piston Cup champion sponsored by Dinoco.
During the final race, Chick Hicks causes The King to crash while fighting for position. Lightning is close to winning the championship, but he brakes before the finish line and reverses toward The King. He pushes the damaged racer across the line instead of accepting a victory earned through another driver's injury.
The decision costs Lightning the Piston Cup because Chick crosses first. However, it earns Lightning admiration from the crowd and from Dinoco's owner. The result establishes the film's central idea that sportsmanship and relationships matter more than a trophy.
The King is voiced by Richard Petty, a real NASCAR champion. His design draws on classic American stock cars, and his number is 43. He is not the same character as Cal Weathers, who appears as a later Dinoco racer in Cars 3.