What is the fictional racing championship in Pixar's Cars called?

The fictional racing championship in Pixar's Cars is called the Piston Cup.

The Piston Cup is the main stock-car competition driving the first film's opening conflict. Lightning McQueen is a rookie competitor who reaches the decisive season finale tied with veteran racer The King and rival Chick Hicks. His ambition to win the championship helps explain why he initially treats other characters as obstacles.

The name is a playful reference to piston engines, whose pistons move inside cylinders to power many conventional cars. The trophy's design and the series' race presentation also draw on American stock-car racing, especially NASCAR-style oval competition.

The Piston Cup is fictional, so it should not be confused with the real NASCAR Cup Series. Cars 3 returns to the championship when McQueen faces a younger generation of technologically advanced racers, making the fictional title important across the trilogy.