In Pixar’s Cars, Strip Weathers is the reigning Piston Cup champion before Lightning McQueen’s breakthrough season.
Weathers is better known by his nickname, The King. He is an experienced blue race car sponsored by Dinoco, and his calm professionalism contrasts with McQueen’s impatience and Chick Hicks’ aggressive behavior. The King represents the established champion whom McQueen hopes to surpass.
The film’s ending creates a three-way finish involving McQueen, Hicks, and Weathers. McQueen sacrifices his chance to win in order to help Weathers after Hicks forces him into a crash. Although Hicks takes the official victory, McQueen earns respect by refusing to abandon the injured veteran.
The character is voiced by Richard Petty, a real NASCAR champion. That casting connects The King to American stock-car racing without making Strip Weathers an actual historical driver. Dinoco later becomes an important fictional racing brand across Pixar’s Cars stories.