Which racer is known as The King in Pixar’s Cars?

Strip Weathers is the racer known as The King in Pixar’s Cars.

The King is a veteran Piston Cup champion whose calm professionalism contrasts with Chick Hicks’s aggressive behavior. His racing number is 43, and his car design is based on a Plymouth Superbird. He represents an established champion at the point when Lightning McQueen enters the racing world.

The character’s nickname echoes real stock-car racing traditions, where successful drivers often acquire memorable titles. The King is voiced by Richard Petty, a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion who also raced with number 43. That casting connects the fictional character with a major figure in American motorsport.

The King is sometimes confused with Cal Weathers, another Dinoco racer who appears later in the franchise. Cal is associated with The King through family and racing history, but Strip Weathers is the character explicitly called The King in the first Cars film.