Pixar’s Cars introduced the character Doc Hudson.
Doc Hudson is the respected medical doctor and judge of Radiator Springs, but he is also revealed to be the retired Fabulous Hudson Hornet, a three-time Piston Cup champion. His past as a racing legend becomes an important part of Lightning McQueen’s education.
Paul Newman provided Doc’s voice in Cars. Newman was both an acclaimed actor and a real-world race driver, making his casting especially meaningful for a film about racing and the culture surrounding it. Doc’s racing history also connects the story to the real Hudson Hornet, a car famous for its success in stock-car racing during the early 1950s.
Doc died before the events of Cars 3, but his memory remains important. The later film uses archival dialogue from Newman to preserve Doc’s presence and influence in Lightning’s story.