Dinoco 400

Dexter Hoover waving the green flag at the restarting lap of the race.

The Dinoco 400 is a Piston Cup Racing Series race and a Piston Cup event. In Cars, it is the last race of the 2005 season, and it is held at the Motor Speedway of the South. Prior to the race, Strip Weathers, Chick Hicks, and Lightning McQueen are tied in season points that determine the Piston Cup champion. However, due to a tire malfunction from McQueen, the race's results in the first three-way tie in the league's history. A three-way tie-breaker race is then set to take place one week later at the Los Angeles International Speedway. In Cars 3, it was the fourth 2016 Piston Cup race held at Copper Canyon Speedway.

Kris Revstopski waving the checkered flag making Jackson Storm the winner.

The Race (Cars)

Weathers, Hicks, and McQueen leading the pack,

Early on, Weathers, Hicks, and McQueen work their way to their usual positions at the front of the pack. Hicks and McQueen fight to pass one another, and their quarrel ends with Hicks performs a PIT maneuver on McQueen, causing him to spin out towards the infield. McQueen recovers quickly, and Hicks notices. He intentionally bumps Winford Bradford Rutherford, who collides with Murray Clutchburn, and soon everyone behind Weathers and Hicks are involved in a chaotic wreckage involving race cars, otherwise known as the infamous "Dinoco is all mine" incident. However, McQueen carefully weaves through the wreckage, much to the awe of the audience.

After carefully avoiding the crash, McQueen stays out on the track and refuses to take tires while every other racer is doing so. During the 301st lap, McQueen finally reaches the pit row, only for him to ignore his pit crew and fuel up a small amount of gas.

The three-way tie between Weathers, McQueen, and Hicks.

When the final lap is announced, McQueen is close to lap the racer in last place, Slider Petrolski, showing how much he is ahead of everyone else. Right as announcers Darrell Cartrip and Bob Cutlass prepare to crown the champion, McQueen's left rear tire blows out as he rounds the very last corner. McQueen tries his best to maintain as much speed as possible, but he has slowed down immensely, which only worsens when his right rear tire explodes. Weathers and Hicks round the final corner during the race, and prepare to pass McQueen, who is desperately jumping towards the finish line. McQueen, Hicks, and Weathers all cross the finish line at the exact same time—causing the fans and announcers alike to excitedly speculate who was truly the winner.

Officials take time to study footage and determine a winner while the competitors take interviews and make sponsor appearances. The officials announce that the race has been called a three-way draw, and the three first-place finishers will compete in a tie-breaker race at the Los Angeles International Speedway one week later.

The Race (Cars 3)

Most of the racers are veterans, except for a mysterious newcomer. Lightning McQueen, Bobby Swift, and Cal Weathers perform well during the race, mainly making up the top three. But on the last lap, Jackson Storm suddenly zooms past the entire top ten in a few seconds, including McQueen, Bobby, Cal, and Brick with Storm placing first and winning the race. Storm's successful debut influences other sponsors what next-generation racers can do.

Starting Positions (Restart)

Position	Number	Sponsor	Name
1st	95	Rust-eze	Lightning McQueen
2nd	93	Spare Mint	Ernie Gearson
3rd	28	Nitroade	Aiken Axler
4th	121	Clutch Aid	Kevin Shiftright
5th	117	Lil' Torquey Pistons	Ralph Carlow
6th	90	Bumper Save	Ponchy Wipeout
7th	43	Dinoco	Strip Weathers
8th	84	Re-Volting	Davey Apex
9th	80	Gask-its	Sage VanDerSpin
10th	74	Sidewall Shine	Slider Petrolski
11th	58	Octane Gain	Billy Oilchanger
12th	34	Trunk Fresh	Dirkson D'Agostino
13th	61	Vitoline	James Cleanair
14th	35	Shifty Drug	Kevin Racingtire
15th	39	View Zeen	Ryan Shields
16th	76	Vinyl Toupee	Crusty Rotor
17th	4	Tow Cap	Rusty Cornfuel
18th	56	Fiber Fuel	Brush Curber
19th	36	Tank Coat	Eugene Carbureski
20th	70	Gasprin	Floyd Mulvihill
21st	86	htB	Chick Hicks
22nd	54	Faux Wheel Drive	Johnny Blamer
23rd	92	Sputter Stop	Murray Clutchburn
24th	33	Mood Springs	Chuck Armstrong
25th	8	Dale Earnhardt, Inc.	Dale Earnhardt Jr.
26th	73	Rev-N-Go	Misti Motorkrass
27th	101	Tach-O-Mint	Greg Candyman

Finishing Positions (2005)

Position	Number	Sponsor	Name
1	95	Rust-eze	Lightning McQueen
1	43	Dinoco	Strip Weathers
1	86	htB	Chick Hicks
4	61	Vitoline	James Cleanair
5	36	Tank Coat	Eugene Carbureski
6	70	Gasprin	Floyd Mulvihill
7	76	Vinyl Toupee	Crusty Rotor
8	117	Lil' Torquey Pistons	Ralph Carlow
9	54	Faux Wheel Drive	Johnny Blamer
10	39	View Zeen	Ryan Shields
11	58	Octane Gain	Billy Oilchanger
12	92	Sputter Stop	Murray Clutchburn
13	84	Re-Volting	Davey Apex
14	8	Dale Earnhardt, Inc.	Dale Earnhardt Jr.
15	121	Clutch-Aid	Kevin Shiftright
16	90	Bumper Save	Ponchy Wipeout
17	93	Spare Mint	Ernie Gearson
18	64	RPM	Winford Bradford Rutherford
19	80	Gask-its	Sage VanDerSpin
20	4	Tow Cap	Rusty Cornfuel
21	56	Fiber Fuel	Brush Curber
22	28	Nitroade	Aiken Axler
23	84	Apple	Mac iCar
24	74	Sidewall Shine	Slider Petrolski
25	35	Shifty Drug	Kevin Racingtire
26	52	Leak Less	Claude Scruggs
27	68	N2O Cola	Manny Flywheel
28	34	Trunk Fresh	Dirkson D'Agostino
29	73	Rev-N-Go	Misti Motorkrass
30	101	Tach-O-Mint	Greg Candyman
31	123	No Stall	Todd Marcus
32	82	Shiny Wax	Darren Leadfoot
DNF	33	Mood Springs	Chuck Armstrong
DNF	79	Retread	Haul Inngas
DNF	51	Easy Idle	Ruby Oaks
DNF	63	Transberry Juice	Lee Revkins

Finishing Positions (2016)

1. 20: Jackson Storm
2. 95: Lightning McQueen
3. 19: Bobby Swift
4. 42: Cal Weathers
5. 24: Brick Yardley
6. 84: Apple Racer
7. 76: Rev Roadages
8. 34: Dirkson D'Agostino
9. 92: Murray Clutchburn
10. 121: Dino Draftsky
11. 28: Phil Tankson
12. 15: Carl Clutchen
13. 73: Rev-N-Go Racer
14. 11: Chip Gearings
15. 80: Rex Revler
16. 00: Jimmy Cables
17. 31: Terry Kargas
18. 90: Ponchy Wipeout
19. 68: Parker Brakeston
20. 36: Reb Meeker
21. 64: Bruce Miller
22. 21: Speedy Comet
23. 6: Markus Krankzler
24. 54: Tommy Highbanks
25. 52: Brian Spark
26. 93: Ernie Gearson
27. 39: Buck Bearingly
28. 48: T.G. Castlenut
29. 5: Lane Locke
30. 82: Darren Leadfoot
31. 4: Jack DePost
32. 33: Dud Throttleman
33. 123: Todd Marcus
34. 117: Ralph Carlow
35. 70: Floyd Mulvihill
36. 67: Bobby Roadtesta

Gallery

• 

  Lightning McQueen overtaking Chuck Armstrong.

• 

  Lightning McQueen overtaking Sage VanDerSpin.

• 

  Lightning McQueen driving in two wheels in order to overtake Floyd Mulvihill and Rusty Cornfuel.

• Slider Petrolski's camera.

  Slider Petrolski's camera.

• 

  Chick Hicks pitting.

• 

  Aiken Axler changing his tires.

• 

  Winford Bradford Rutherford drinking a can of Nitroade.

• Lee Revkins and Chick Hicks battling for the 1st position.

  Lee Revkins and Chick Hicks battling for the 1st position.

• 

  Strip Weathers blocking Chick's path.

• 

  Chick Hicks racing towards McQueen.

• Strip Weathers, Chick Hicks and Lightning McQueen tied with 5013 points each.

  Strip Weathers, Chick Hicks and Lightning McQueen tied with 5013 points each.

• 

  Chick Hicks about to hit Winford Bradford Rutherford.

• 

  Crusty Rotor about to hit Ryan Shields.

• 

  Slider Petrolski about to hit Floyd Mulvihill. (Note: Slider gains stripes on his back in this shot)

• 

  Chuck Armstrong flying through the speedway.

• 

  Brush Curber, Kevin Racingtire and Davey Apex spinning out of control.

• 

  Rusty Cornfuel overtaking Todd Marcus and Claude Scruggs.

• 

  Claude Scruggs on top of Todd Marcus.

• Kevin Shiftright stuck at the wall.

  Kevin Shiftright stuck at the wall.

• Manny Flywheel driving backwards.

  Manny Flywheel driving backwards.

• James Cleanair unconscious.

  James Cleanair unconscious.

• 

  Chuck Armstrong being towed out of the race.

• Billy Oilchanger, Johnny Blamer and Strip Weathers exiting the pits.

  Billy Oilchanger, Johnny Blamer and Strip Weathers exiting the pits.

• 

  Chick Hicks starting the restarting lap at the end of the pack.

• 

  Chick Hicks about to overtake Greg Candyman.

• Chick Hicks about to overtake Ponchy Wipeout.

  Chick Hicks about to overtake Ponchy Wipeout.

• 

  Strip Weathers about to overtake Johnny Blamer.

• 

  Jackson Storm about to over take other racers

• The Dinoco 400, that took place on the Copper Canyon Speedway.

  The Dinoco 400, that took place on the Copper Canyon Speedway.

• 

  Jackson Storm passing Lightning Mcqueen,Bobby Swift and Cal Weathers

Trivia

• As of Cars 3, the Dinoco 400 is no longer the final race of the Piston Cup season. At least in that year, as the last race is the Los Angeles 500.
• Despite having being towed out of the race, Chuck Armstrong strangely reappers in the restart lap. This is an error, however, as he and several other racers were too damaged to continue racing, yet they still appear in some shots of the race.
• The pit row only has 19 team stands for the racers, even though there were 36 cars competing.
• Jackson Storm debuts in this race.