Thomasville is the fictional town Lightning McQueen visits during his training in Pixar’s Cars 3.
After struggling against Jackson Storm, Lightning seeks advice from Smokey, Doc Hudson’s former crew chief. Smokey takes him to Thomasville, a historic racing community in the American South. There, Lightning learns more about Doc’s early career and trains with Smokey’s help.
Thomasville is associated with the older generation of racers who competed before the modern high-tech era. Its dirt-track training and local racing history allow Lightning to reconnect with the methods Doc once used. The town’s setting also expands the film’s view of Doc beyond the retired figure seen in the first movie.
Thomasville should not be confused with Radiator Springs, where Lightning lives and first meets Doc. Radiator Springs is the central community of Cars, while Thomasville is a separate racing location visited in Cars 3.