What race is held in the finale of Pixar’s Cars 3?

The finale of Pixar’s Cars 3 is the Florida 500.

The Florida 500 is the decisive Piston Cup race where Lightning McQueen faces the consequences of falling behind the sport’s technologically advanced next generation. He begins the event as the Rust-eze team’s intended racer, but Cruz Ramirez ultimately takes his place on the track and wins.

The race is held at the fictional Florida International Super Speedway. Its setting allows the film to stage a major professional event while keeping the story focused on Lightning’s decision to support Cruz. The victory also marks the beginning of Cruz’s career as a Piston Cup racer.

The Florida 500 should not be confused with the final championship race in the first Cars film, which is associated with the Piston Cup tiebreaker in California. Cars 3 uses the Florida 500 as its generational turning point.