Which real NASCAR driver voices Strip Weathers, known as The King, in Pixar’s Cars?

Richard Petty voices Strip Weathers, known as The King, in Pixar’s Cars.

The King is an accomplished veteran racer and a prominent competitor in the Piston Cup. His design is based on the Plymouth Superbird, a famous American racing car, and his status reflects Richard Petty’s place in NASCAR history. Petty supplied the character’s English voice, while his wife, Lynda Petty, voices The King’s wife, Mrs. The King.

Richard Petty won the NASCAR Cup Series championship seven times, matching the record held by Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson. He also won the Daytona 500 seven times. Those achievements make his casting especially appropriate for an animated character presented as racing royalty.

The King’s storyline also involves Chick Hicks and Lightning McQueen. In the film’s climactic race, Chick’s aggressive tactics cause a serious crash involving The King, prompting Lightning to make a sportsmanlike decision. The character is therefore both a tribute to stock-car history and part of the film’s lesson about respect in competition.