Lightning McQueen tries to win the Piston Cup in Pixar's Cars.
At the beginning of the film, McQueen is one of three cars tied for the championship after the season's final race. The deciding event is a three-way race involving McQueen, veteran racer The King, and Chick Hicks.
The Piston Cup is a fictional racing championship modeled on the culture and presentation of American stock-car racing. Its name is a playful reference to the real-world motorsport trophy traditions that inspired the film's racing world.
McQueen's pursuit of the trophy causes him to ignore his team and damage his public image. After his time in Radiator Springs, he chooses to help The King finish rather than focus only on victory. The ending gives McQueen a new sponsor and shows that sportsmanship matters more than the trophy alone.