The King in Pixar’s Cars carries the racing number 43.
The King is the nickname of Strip Weathers, a veteran Piston Cup champion voiced by Richard Petty. His design is based largely on the Plymouth Superbird, a highly distinctive American stock car associated with NASCAR’s aerodynamic era. The number 43 is a direct reference to Petty’s famous NASCAR number.
In the film, The King is a calm and respected competitor near the end of his career. Chick Hicks, a more aggressive racer, wants to replace him as the leading champion. Lightning McQueen’s decision during the final race shows that winning is not the only measure of a driver’s character.
The number can be confused with McQueen’s number 95 or Chick Hicks’s number 86. The King’s identity is also distinct from “The King” as a generic title: in Cars, it specifically refers to Strip Weathers, a fictional racer whose visual and numerical details honor Richard Petty.