In ESPN The Magazine’s April 10 MLB Preview Issue, there is a preview of Pixar’s upcoming Cars 3. The sports magazine took a look at some of the new characters to the franchise and the groundbreaking racers who inspired them. Check out the full article for comments from the film’s directors as well as some of the racers them.
River Scott
INSPIRATION: Wendell Scott
2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame, first (and so far only) African-American to win a Cup Series race
VOICED BY: Isiah Whitlock Jr.
Junior “Midnight” Moon
INSPIRATION: Junior Johnson
2010 NASCAR Hall of Fame and inspiration for the movie “The Last American Hero”
VOICED BY: Junior Johnson
Smokey
INSPIRATION: Smokey Yunick
Legendary mechanic, winning car builder/crew chief of both Daytona 500 and Indy 500
VOICED BY: Chris Cooper
Louise “Barnstormer” Nash
INSPIRATION: Louise Smith
“First Lady of Racing,” competed in NASCAR from 1945 to ’56, winning
38 races across four divisions
VOICED BY: Margo Martindale
Cars 3 will be released June 16, 2017. For more information check out our movie guide.