Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy was a show attraction based on the ''Cars'' franchise in

Sunset Boulevard Sunset Boulevard is a boulevard in the central and western part of Los Angeles, California, United States, that stretches from the Pacific Coast Highway (California), Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, Pacific Palisad ...

Disney's Hollywood Studios Disney's Hollywood Studios is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando. It is owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company through its Experiences division. Based on a concept by Marty Sklar, Randy Br ...

, which opened on March 31, 2019, as part of the park's 30th anniversary celebration. The show took place after the events of ''

Cars 3 ''Cars 3'' is a 2017 American animated sports comedy-adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. It is a sequel to '' Cars 2'' (2011) and the third film in the ''Cars'' franchise. It was directed by Brian Fe ...

''. The show was housed in Sunset Showcase Theater near

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is an indoor launched roller coaster located at Disney's Hollywood Studios within Walt Disney World. Manufactured by Vekoma, the roller coaster opened to the public on July 29, 1999. It uses linear mot ...

. On September 3, 2024, it was announced that the show would close on October 7, 2024, to make way for an all-new Disney Villains-themed stage show, Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After, which opened on May 27, 2025.

Voice cast

Owen Wilson Owen Cunningham Wilson (born November 18, 1968) is an American actor. He has frequently worked with filmmaker Wes Anderson, with whom he has shared writing and acting credits on the films '' Bottle Rocket'' (1996), '' Rushmore'' (1998), and ''T ...

Lightning McQueen Lightning McQueen is a fictional anthropomorphic stock car and the protagonist of the Disney/Pixar ''Cars'' franchise. He was developed by John Lasseter and co-director Joe Ranft from a story concept by Jorgen Klubien. Lightning's appearances ...

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Tow Mater Tow Mater is a fictional anthropomorphic tow truck and major character in the Disney/Pixar ''Cars'' franchise. His appearances include the feature films ''Cars'', ''Cars 2'', and ''Cars 3,'' as well as in the TV series ''Cars Toons'' and '' Cars ...

Bonnie Hunt Bonnie Lynn Hunt (born September 22, 1961) is an American actress and comedian. Her film roles include ''Rain Man'', ''Beethoven (film), Beethoven'', ''Beethoven's 2nd (film), Beethoven's 2nd'', ''Jumanji'', ''Jerry Maguire'', ''The Green Mile ( ...

as Sally Carrera *

Cristela Alonzo Cristela Alonzo (born January 6, 1979) is an American stand-up comedian, actress, writer, and producer, who created and starred in the ABC sitcom '' Cristela.'' This made Alonzo the first Mexican American woman to create, produce, write, and sta ...

as Cruz Ramirez * Bob Peterson as Chick Hicks *

John Ratzenberger John Dezso Ratzenberger (born April 6, 1947)About John
from Ratzenberger's official website is an Americ ...

as Mack *

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as Luigi *

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as Fillmore *

Jenifer Lewis Jenifer Jeanette Lewis (born January 25, 1957) is an American actress. She began her career appearing in Broadway musicals and worked as a back-up singer for Bette Midler before appearing in films ''Beaches'' (1988) and '' Sister Act'' (1992). L ...

as Flo *

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as Miss Fritter

Show summary

During the 10-minute show, guests took on the role of "rookie racer" as they entered the theater and watched a

animatronic on stage. The audience was enveloped by a giant, wrap-around screen that was nearly two stories tall and stretched more than 200 feet from end to end. Lightning was anxious to show what he's learned over the years, but his main rival Chick Hicks hacked into the simulator system to humiliate him. Mater, Cruz Ramirez and Lightning's friends from

Radiator Springs ''Cars'' is an American animated film series and media franchise set in a world populated by anthropomorphic vehicles created by John Lasseter, Joe Ranft and Jorgen Klubien. The franchise began with the 2006 film, ''Cars'', produced by Pixar ...

chimed in with their support, as Lightning geared up for a challenge to settle the score with Chick Hicks in a virtual simulator race. In the courtyard outside the attraction, guests could meet Cruz Ramirez and joined DJ's Dance Party, relocated from

Cars Land ''Cars'' Land is a themed area of Disney California Adventure, inspired by Pixar's ''Cars'' franchise, and Route 66 in America. The area, built as part of Disney California Adventure's $1.1 billion expansion project, opened on June 13, 2012, a ...

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy Disney's Hollywood Studios Pixar in amusement parks Sunset Boulevard (Disney's Hollywood Studios) Walt Disney Parks and Resorts entertainment Audio-Animatronic attractions 2019 establishments in Florida 2024 disestablishments in Florida Cars (franchise)