The King crashes, rookie saves the day, Chick Hicks wins anyway

Photo courtesy of Mateus S. Figueiredo/Wikimedia Commons

In a stunning finish at the Piston Cup championship, Lightning McQueen sacrificed a historic rookie title to help Strip "The King" Weathers cross the line, handing the win to Chick Hicks but redefining what it means to be a true champion.

This weekend, viewers were treated to a first in Piston Cup history: a three-car tie-breaker championship race at Los Angeles International Speedway to determine this season’s winner. 

This special race was added after last week’s eventful night at the Motor Speedway of the South. The Piston Cup’s climactic championship, the Dinoco 400, was intended to close out a highly competitive season, fueled by the tension of a three-way tie for season leader between seven-time Piston Cup champion Strip “The King” Weathers, seasoned veteran Chick Hicks, and rookie Lightning McQueen. 

The night at the Motor Speedway of the South was a thriller, with multiple moments leaving audiences in awe. Preceding the once-in-a-lifetime three-way tie, a massive 30-car pile-up occurred near the end of the race, putting most racers involved out of service for the foreseeable future. Later still, Lightning McQueen denied service from his pit crew, causing him to blow out his rear tires on the last lap, resulting in the now infamous finish line picture of McQueen sticking his tongue out to qualify for a tie. 

Following the announcement of the tie-breaker race, the participants were given only a week to reach California. With tensions mounting, audiences rushed to the Los Angeles International Speedway, eager to witness a race that would go down in Piston Cup history. 

Pre-race festivities kicked into high gear, with rumors of Dinoco looking for a new racer to sponsor fueling press speculation regarding the King’s successor. However, something else caught the press’s eye: Lightning McQueen’s new pit crew full of almost completely new faces.

The biggest shock of McQueen’s crew, though, was the appearance of three-time Piston Cup champion Doc Hudson, better known as the Fabulous Hudson Hornet. Hudson has not been seen since his career-ending crash until now. 

Following McQueen’s arrival, even more rumors began about how McQueen spent his week between races. After a falling out at the Motor Speedway, many fans theorized who would join this new pit crew for the final race. The answer: a group of individuals from Radiator Springs, a small town in Carburetor County. Fans believe this is where Doc Hudson may currently reside.

The championship race itself went smoothly, until the final lap. With McQueen far in the lead, The King experienced a devastating crash—ironically reminiscent of that of the Fabulous Hudson Hornet—that would have likely ended his career were he not already planning his retirement this season.

As a shock to all viewers, Lightning McQueen stopped less than a car’s length from the finish line, reversing back to push down the track and over the finish line before him. This heroic act sacrificed McQueen’s chance to become the first rookie in Piston Cup history to win the championship. The Piston Cup championship instead went to Chick Hicks.

Fans were displeased after the winner, Chick Hicks, boasted his victory post-race, citing his poor sportsmanship and sparking debate about his role in The King’s crash. Chick Hicks refused to comment.  

When asked to comment on his decision to give up the victory, McQueen told the press, “This grumpy old race car I know once told me something: it's just an empty cup.” McQueen then declared his intention to return to Radiator Springs and set up his headquarters, turning down the offer for a Dinoco sponsorship.