On February 23, 2017, Pixar and NASCAR announce numerous NASCAR drivers and crew members to have roles in Cars 3, including the returns of Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon, Darrell Waltrip and H. A. Wheeler. At the same time, they announce the film to be promoted for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
On January 24, 2017, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announce the reopening and acquisition of Avalanche Software, with plans for a game based on Cars 3.
On January 9, 2017, a Cars 3 extended look (right) premiered on ESPN and online. The trailer contains all footage from the first teaser trailer, with an additional fifty seconds of film footage.
Starting on December 31, 2016, American sports channels began airing fifteen-second commercials that advertise a brand-new exclusive look at Cars 3, which will be aired at 8:00 PM EST on January 9, 2017 during the college football playoff national championship on ESPN.
On May 30, 2016, Brian Fee confirmed he is the director of Cars 3, along with revealing further plot details and two new characters, Cruz Ramirez and Jackson Storm.
On May 10, 2016, Disney officially confirmed that they will end the Disney Infinity series after the releases of the Alice Through the Looking Glass and Finding Dory figures.