What racing trophy is Lightning McQueen competing for in Pixar's Cars?

Lightning McQueen is competing for the Piston Cup in Pixar's Cars.

At the beginning of the film, McQueen is a rookie racer tied with veteran drivers The King and Chick Hicks for the championship. A three-way tiebreaker race at the Los Angeles International Speedway is arranged to determine the winner.

McQueen's desire to win the Piston Cup drives the opening part of the story. After he becomes stranded in Radiator Springs, however, his priorities change. The film contrasts individual fame with teamwork, loyalty, and respect for older racing traditions.

The Piston Cup is a fictional championship modeled partly on American stock-car racing. Its name echoes the piston, a major engine component, while the racing setting and sponsor references give the competition a recognizable motorsport flavor.