What was the title of the racing championship in Pixar’s original Cars?

The Piston Cup was the racing championship in Pixar’s original Cars.

Lightning McQueen enters the film as a rookie competitor in the Piston Cup season. The championship is inspired by the presentation and traditions of American stock-car racing, especially NASCAR-style competition.

The story begins after McQueen, Chick Hicks, and The King finish tied for the season lead. Because the tie cannot be settled by the usual points system, the three racers are sent to a special race at the Los Angeles International Speedway.

The Piston Cup name is fictional, but it is one of the series’ most important recurring institutions. Dinoco is a sponsor and racing team, not the championship itself. Cars 3 later shows the racing world changing as newer competitors challenge the established Piston Cup stars.