The King
Speed: Pulled over 200 miles per hour on the Superspeedways
Car sponsor: Sponsored by Dinoco, engine oil of the champions
The King is a 1970 Plymouth Superbird, built to persuade superstar driver Richard Petty to use a Plymouth to race in NASCAR events, the Superbird was designed by modifying the Plymouth Belvedere in 1970 so that Petty could compete against the Dodge Daytona. Outfitted with a hood and fender from a 1970 Dodge Coronet, it was designed with a lowered nose cone and tall rear fin to make it even more aerodynamic.
The car did well enough in NASCAR racing that year, winning eight races, but it never became a big seller. In an example of nostalgic casting, Cars lured 68-year-old Richard Petty to its movie to provide the voice for The King. The King, Strip Weathers, is a legend around Radiator Springs as the winner of more Piston Cup races than any car in history. The King plans to retire at the end of the current racing season, and to turn over the coveted sponsorship of his car by Dinoco. Among those who want a shot at The King's crown, of course, is Lightning McQueen.
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