Cars was the first Pixar Cars movie to show Lightning McQueen racing in a Piston Cup final.
The original film centers on a three-way tie for the Piston Cup between Lightning McQueen, Chick Hicks, and the veteran racer Strip Weathers, better known as The King. Because the championship cannot be decided by the tie, the racers compete in a final race at the Los Angeles International Speedway.
Before that race, Lightning’s time in Radiator Springs changes how he understands friendship, responsibility, and competition. When The King crashes late in the event, Lightning gives up the chance to win easily and helps him reach the finish. Chick Hicks takes the trophy, but Lightning gains respect for choosing sportsmanship.
Cars 3 also includes a Piston Cup-related championship race, but it follows Lightning’s later career and his rivalry with Jackson Storm. Cars 2 focuses on the World Grand Prix instead, so it does not continue the original Piston Cup finale.