What is the name of the racing championship central to Pixar’s Cars?

The Piston Cup is the racing championship central to Pixar’s Cars.

Lightning McQueen enters the film as a rookie competing in the Piston Cup season. The championship’s deciding race ends in a three-way tie between McQueen, Chick Hicks, and The King, leading to a tiebreaker race at the Los Angeles International Speedway.

The Piston Cup is a fictional competition modeled on American stock-car racing. Its name and presentation echo NASCAR culture, while The King’s design and career are associated with the sport’s legendary champions. Dinoco is a fictional sponsor connected with The King and later with McQueen, but it is not the name of the championship.

Cars 3 returns to the Piston Cup as McQueen attempts to remain competitive against younger racers. Cars 2 instead centers on the separate World Grand Prix, an international event held in Tokyo, Porto Corsa, and London.