Doc Hudson was a Piston Cup champion who later became Radiator Springs’ doctor in Pixar’s Cars.
Doc is revealed to have been the Fabulous Hudson Hornet, a celebrated racer and three-time Piston Cup champion. His racing career ended after a crash left him sidelined, and he became a physician in Radiator Springs.
As the town’s medical professional, Doc treats damaged vehicles, but he also serves as a stern mentor to Lightning McQueen. His history explains why he initially distrusts publicity and resists McQueen’s reckless attitude toward racing.
Paul Newman voiced Doc Hudson in Cars, making the role one of the actor’s notable late-career voice performances. Newman died in 2008, so Doc does not have a newly recorded speaking role in Cars 2. The character’s racing identity is based on the real Hudson Hornet, a famous American car model.