Doc Hudson mentors Lightning McQueen in Radiator Springs in Pixar’s Cars. Doc is the town’s respected doctor and a former champion race car who initially keeps his racing past secret.
Doc was once known as the Fabulous Hudson Hornet, a highly successful racer whose career was cut short by a crash and a lack of support from the racing world. After leaving professional competition, he settled in Radiator Springs and became its doctor. His experience gives him the knowledge to teach Lightning about control, patience, and the importance of relationships.
The character was voiced by Paul Newman in Cars. Newman was both an acclaimed actor and a real-life racing enthusiast, making his casting especially fitting. Doc’s real-world design is based on the Hudson Hornet, a car associated with early stock-car racing success. Strip Weathers, also called The King, is a different veteran racer, while Chick Hicks and Jackson Storm are rivals from separate stages of Lightning’s career.