Smokey is the retired racing champion who mentors Lightning McQueen in Pixar’s Cars 3.
After Lightning struggles to compete with Jackson Storm, he travels to Thomasville, Georgia, seeking help with his training. There he meets Smokey, an experienced mechanic and former racing associate of Doc Hudson. Smokey helps Lightning understand that preparation is not only about speed but also about adapting his approach.
Smokey’s connection to Doc gives Lightning a deeper understanding of his former mentor’s life and racing career. The Thomasville sequence also introduces legendary racers Louise Nash, River Scott, and Junior “Midnight” Moon.
Smokey is not the same character as Doc Hudson. Doc is Lightning’s mentor in the first film, while Smokey becomes the key mentor during Cars 3’s training and reflection storyline.