Which real racing driver voices The King in Pixar’s Cars?

Richard Petty voices The King in Pixar’s Cars.

The King is a veteran race car and a seven-time Piston Cup champion. His character is modeled on Petty’s real racing career, and The King’s racing number, 43, also matches the number famously associated with Petty’s NASCAR cars.

The King is presented as a respected professional who understands both competition and responsibility. His experience contrasts with Lightning McQueen’s early arrogance and Chick Hicks’s aggressive tactics. He is also married to a car known as Mrs. The King, voiced by Petty’s wife, Lynda Petty.

Richard Petty is one of NASCAR’s most successful drivers, with 200 premier-series race victories. The Cars character is a Plymouth Superbird-inspired race car, reflecting the visual language of classic American stock-car racing. Petty returned to the franchise for later Cars-related appearances.