What is the name of the fictional racing series' trophy in Pixar's Cars?

The fictional racing series' trophy in Pixar's Cars is the Piston Cup.

The Piston Cup is the championship prize pursued by Lightning McQueen and the other competitors in the film's stock-car racing world. The season finale becomes especially important because Lightning is a rookie contender competing against veteran champion Strip Weathers, known as The King, and rival Chick Hicks.

The name is a playful reference to piston engines, whose pistons move inside cylinders to help power many internal-combustion vehicles. Pixar uses the term as an in-universe equivalent of a major stock-car championship rather than presenting it as a real-world racing organization.

Dinoco is another important racing name in Cars, but it is a sponsor and brand, not the trophy itself. The film also includes the Rust-eze team, which sponsors Lightning. These names can be confused because the race, sponsor, team, and award all appear in the same championship storyline.