What is the name of the racing championship featured in Pixar's Cars?

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

Lightning McQueen enters the film as a rookie competing in the Piston Cup season. The championship is presented as a stock-car racing series with multiple races, sponsors, teams, and a season-ending title contest. McQueen's main rivals include Chick Hicks and Strip Weathers, better known as The King.

The Piston Cup name is a playful reference to real-world motorsport trophies and mechanical engine terminology. In the film, the cup represents more than a prize: it symbolizes Lightning's initial obsession with fame and victory. His experiences in Radiator Springs gradually change how he thinks about winning.

The World Grand Prix is a different competition introduced in Cars 2, so it is a common alternative answer. Dinoco is a sponsor and racing brand rather than the championship itself. Cars 3 returns to the Piston Cup world, where Lightning faces a new generation led by Jackson Storm.