Which real NASCAR driver voiced The King in Pixar's Cars?

Richard Petty voiced The King in Pixar's Cars.

The King is the nickname of Strip Weathers, a veteran Piston Cup racer and reigning champion at the beginning of the original film. His design is based on the Plymouth Superbird, a famous high-performance car associated with stock-car racing. Petty's voice gives the character an authentic connection to NASCAR and its history.

Richard Petty is one of NASCAR's most successful drivers. He won the Daytona 500 seven times and captured the NASCAR premier-series championship seven times. His career and public nickname made him a natural choice for a character presented as an admired racing legend.

The King is not the same character as Chick Hicks, Lightning McQueen's aggressive rival. Dale Earnhardt Jr. also appears in Cars as the voice of Junior, a race car, which may cause confusion. Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are real NASCAR stars, but neither voiced The King.