Background
Personality
The King is kind and caring about others, unlike Lightning McQueen was at the start of the film. He is a veteran of many races, but is also a devoted husband and enjoys the thought of retirement. He is also an honorable racer and would never resort to cheating.
Appearances
Cars
"The King", Strip Weathers, has seen it all. From his humble beginnings on the Piston Cup circuit, to the glitzy sponsorship and media attention he has today. This seven time Piston Cup Champion is the winningest racecar in all of Piston Cup history. He's loved every second of his racing career, but truth be told, The King is ready for a slower pace. He's looking forward to more time with his queen, Mrs. The King."[1]
"After a spectacular crash The King looked pretty beat up, but rest assured he was back on his tires in no time flat! When you've been racing and crashing as long as he has, you can handle a few scrapes and bruises."[1]
Strip leading the race.
He tied for first place with Lightning McQueen and Chick Hicks in the Piston Cup final, so a tie-breaking race was scheduled in California. He races for the team "Dinoco". Weathers tells McQueen that he's got great talent as a racer but he's stupid for trying to be a one man show. The King attempts to offer McQueen a dime's worth of free advice, saying it is also the crew, not just the racer, that wins races. But Lightning was too distracted daydreaming about becoming the poster car for Dinoco to pay attention. At the race in Los Angeles, The King led for most of the time until Lightning used a trick from Doc Hudson to get onto the track after Chick rammed him onto the infield during the final lap; when Lightning used the trick to get into the lead, The King smiles as though he realises that Lightning has become what he wanted him to be and wants him to win. Apparently content to come in second place, The King focused on keeping ahead of Chick Hicks. However, getting frustrated that he wasn't going to win, Chick vows that he is never coming in behind Weathers again and in a display of loathsome cheating and lack of sportsmanship, hits The King with the PIT maneuver and sends him flying through the air above the infield, where he crashes and rolls several times before coming to a halt, battered and issuing steam as his wife and fans watch in horror. McQueen, with a moment of conscience and is fearful that Weathers will be doomed to the same fate as Doc, halts inches away from the finish line and instead nudges the injured Weathers over the line to allow him to retire with dignity, much to everyone's amazement. The King reminds McQueen that he just forfeited the Piston Cup, but the rookie says that "a grumpy old race car" once told him that it is just an empty cup. The crowd then erupts with cheers for the two cars respect and boo Chick Hicks off-stage for his despicable act. The King is then nudged to the pit-stop area where his wife kisses Lightning as thanks for helping her husband before the press both interview them.
The King (who has now been repaired) and Lynda later visit Radiator Springs and tour the museum. As Mater showed them the Doc Hudson wing, The King remarks that the Hudson Hornet was his inspiration.
Cars 3
He appears again in Cars 3. He is apparently now serving as the crew chief for his nephew Cal Weathers. Early in the film, he compliments one of Cal's attempted insults. At the end, he is seen alongside Tex Dinoco and Cal Weather, where they allow Cruz Ramirez to become Dinoco's next racer.[2]
Video games
Cars: The Video Game
The King's appearance in Cars: The Video Game
In Cars: The Video Game, The King returns as a playable character. While retired, he is still an unlockable character for Piston Cup racing. As a result, Darrell Cartrip's commentary lines include "It sure is nice to have Weathers back on the track!" He is only playable in the Piston Cup races in Arcade and Vs. Modes. Strangely, he doesn't appear in Story Mode. However, he was mentioned in the cut-scene for Palm Mile Speedway where Darrell Cartrip says that it's now gonna be Lightning vs. Chick with The King retired.
Disney INFINITY
In Disney INFINITY, The King appears many times as a racing opponent. He also appears in some cut-scenes, including one where he talks to Luigi.
Gallery
Trivia
- Strip is based on a 1970 Plymouth Superbird with a 426 ci hemi (about seven liters) engine, the same model Richard Petty drove. The Superbird was a heavily modified version of the Plymouth Road Runner, specifically designed for stock car racing. Its radical design was later banned by NASCAR. The King features slightly bigger wheels and a shortened wheelbase - an edit only for the film to make the car more visually appealing.
- The King's crash seems to be a re-creation of Petty's real-life Daytona 500 accident in 1988 with the exception that it was not caused by a collision with another driver as in the movie. The bit which McQueen assists him to the finish line seems to be based on the 1976 incident, albeit by the pit crew.
- In the Danish version, The King was voiced by nine-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen.
- In the Finnish version, he was voiced by Finnish two-time Formula One World Champion Mika Häkkinen.
- In the German version, he was voiced by Austrian three-time Formula One World Champion Niki Lauda.
- His record of seven Piston Cups won will be reached by Lightning in Cars 3.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Car Finder" (supplementary material on Blu-ray Disc release of Cars). 2007. Blu-ray Disc. Walt Disney Home Entertainment, 2007.
- ↑ 'Cars 3' gears up for a season-long ride with NASCAR
External links
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