World's most famous Nascar drivers inspiration behind 'Cars 3'
Lightning McQueen (R) faces newer and faster cars in the last movie.

The third movie of the 'Cars' series was inspired by the famous NASCAR drivers including Jeff Gordon, who won the race in the 1995, 1997, 1996 and 2001 seasons and Ray Evernham, who was the team captain in three championships



One of Disney Pixar's most beloved animated films "Cars 3" was released on June 16, a continuation of what began with the first "Cars" in 2006 followed by "Cars 2" in 2011, both of which gained more than $1 billion at the box office and won the Best Animation award at the Golden Globes. The famous Turkish comedian Cem Yılmaz, who did a voice over of "Cars 2" and was in the studio to dub Italian Francesco Bernoulli, the most famous race car driver of Europe and the top-ranked competitor of the leading role, Lightning McQueen.

The third movie in the series is inspired by the stories of race car drivers who saw great success at the NASCAR races. The film's producer had announced that they have wanted to continue to foster the relationship of sincerity and warmth set between Lightning McQueen and audience members since the first movie was produced, building the sequels upon the true stories of four car races. In the film, producers pay their respects to NASCAR's legendary drivers and Lightning McQueen is faced with newer and faster cars, in new versions of high-tech cars revived from 10 years ago. The movie, which captures the experience and the importance of mentoring which exceeds the need for speed and excitement, was inspired by many NASCAR drivers including Jeff Gordon, who won the race in the 1995, 1997, 1996 and 2001 seasons and Ray Evernham, who was the team captain in three championships at Gordon.

The new race car, known as "Hamilton," contributed to the characters of "Cars 3" as is dubbed by Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton and Junior Midnight Moon. The legend of the Piston Cup is dubbed by Robert Glenn Johnson, known as Nascar's legendary Junior Johnson. As the inspiration behind the character, the "Junior Johnson Midnight Moon" brand of oil was developed by Junior Johnson, who won a total of 50 NASCAR races in the 1950s and the 1960s and left his mark on the history of NASCAR.

The only female racer, Louise Barnstormer Nash, who made a name for herself with her fearless approach to racing, was inspired by Louise Smith, known as the "First Lady of Racing." Smith, who refused to settle for merely watching car races, joined NASCAR in 1949 as the first female racer and went on to win 38 races throughout her seven-year career at NASCAR. Surprisingly, she wrecked her family's brand new sports car during the course.

River Scott, one of the leading racers of the Piston Cup who never gave up on his firm stance and stubborn persona, is inspired by the first African American racer Wendell Scott, who won NASCAR's top race, the Grand National Series.

"Cars 3" depicts the true stories of NASCAR race car drivers and tells the stories of the drivers who dedicate their lives to these races. According to the racers themselves, they have no other choice than to return to the game, reliving their experiences vicariously through the adventures of Lightning McQueen.

Returning to the race tracks after six years, Lightning McQueen is no longer a beginner but when he encounters the new, lightning-fast speed of the race cars, he finds himself pulled away from the sport he loves so much. However, just like the Nascar drivers, he cannot see any other way out but to get back in the game. McQueen is accompanied by monumental characters that will leave their mark on the silver screen; including Cruz Ramirez, the ambitious trainer who wants to restart his career, his tough, new competitor Jackson Storm and the Great Hudson Hornet.