Which retired racer does Paul Newman voice in Pixar’s Cars?

Paul Newman voices Doc Hudson, the retired racer in Pixar’s Cars.

Doc Hudson is the town physician and a respected judge of racing talent in Radiator Springs. He initially hides his past from Lightning McQueen, but the film reveals that Doc was the Fabulous Hudson Hornet, a three-time Piston Cup champion. His racing career ended after a crash and a period of being overlooked by the racing world.

Newman’s casting was especially meaningful because he had a major connection to motorsport. He competed as a race-car driver, including in professional events, and co-founded Newman/Haas Racing with Carl Haas. His calm, distinctive voice helped make Doc one of the film’s most memorable characters.

Doc does not appear as a living character in Cars 2, which was released after Newman’s death in 2008, but his legacy remains important. Cars 3 includes a racing tribute to him and uses archival audio from Newman in the character’s story.