The King is the name of Lightning McQueen’s blue veteran rival in Pixar’s Cars.
The King, whose personal name is Strip Weathers, is an established Piston Cup champion sponsored by Dinoco. He drives a blue race car with the number 43, a tribute to real stock-car racing traditions. In the original Cars, he represents experience, consistency, and sportsmanship as McQueen and Chick Hicks fight for the championship.
The King is voiced by Richard Petty, one of the most successful drivers in NASCAR history. Petty’s racing career included seven NASCAR Cup Series championships and 200 premier-series victories. Casting him gave the character a direct connection to American stock-car racing.
The King also appears in Cars 3, where he serves as a mentor to the older McQueen. His role in both films helps connect the Piston Cup’s earlier era with the changing technology and training methods represented by newer racers.