History Characters / CarsFirstFilm

* TookALevelInBadass: He's already a skilled racer, but he becomes even better after his stay in Radiator Springs. By the second movie, he's won several Piston Cups and can compete with the world's best racers.

* TheDefroster: Mater's the first resident of Radiator Springs to truly break through Lightning's [[DefrostingIceKing frosty exterior]] and befriend him, in part because he doesn't actually know about Lightning's status as a celebrity and genuinely wants to be his friend.

* MoralityPet: Along with Sally and Doc, Mater is one of the few cars responsible for making [=McQueen=] become nice during his time in Radiator Springs.

* MoralityPet: Along with Mater and Sally, Doc serves as this to [=McQueen=], as he's responsible for making him have his HeelRealization.

* MoralityPet: Along with Mater and Doc, she is the one who first makes [=McQueen=] start to become nicer.

* HalfWittedHillbilly: Mater certainly looks and acts the part of a redneck who is not very bright, but his encyclopedic knowledge of car parts and problem-solving skills suggest that [[ObfuscatingStupidity he's a lot smarter than he lets on]].

* HeroProtagonist: He becomes the main protagonist of ''Cars 2'', gets involved in a spy mission, and thrwarts the BigBad by the end of the film.

* TokenEvilTeammate: Out of the three racers for the season (The other two being pre-character development [[ItsAllAboutMe Lightning]] and [[NiceGuy The King]]), he is the meanest and dirtiest racer and never has a change of heart.
* TookALevelInKindness: After being repeatedly called out for his {{jerkass}} attitude in ''VideoGame/CarsFastAsLightning'', Chick tries to be nicer to his opponents and even genuinely attempts to compliment them (albeit in his [[ItsAllAboutMe own backhanded way]]). Same goes for ''VideoGame/Cars3DrivenToWin'' during his quick commentaries at the end of races where he'll talk about a specific racer, praising the car that came in first, being polite about cars who places second to fourth, and not being malicious when talking about about cars that came in last. Although, if he talks about Lightning, it'll still be in a condescending manner even if Lightning wins a race.

* DemotedToSatelliteLoveInterest: After the first movie, her role in the franchise is little more than "Lightning's Girlfriend".

* EmbarrassingTattoo: A tramp [[invoked]][[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments stamp!]]

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: She is this to the town, believing that after Lightning's arrival, fixing the road will bring customers back. [[spoiler: This is played even further in the climax of ''Cars 3'' -- Lightning discovers that since he started the Florida 500 and Cruz finished under his number, they both share the victory and Lightning wins the bet against Sterling. Sally proves this word-per-word following this reveal.]]

* HistoryRepeats: Just as what happened to Doc, following the introduction of Jackson Storm and the next-gens, he suffers a violent, near-fatal crash that questions the future of his career, and worries about an imminent retirement. [[spoiler: While he doesn't retire, he still becomes a mentor to Cruz, a car who's just starting her racing career, and before that --like what happened with The King-- she helps him finish the race.]]
* HopelessWithTech: As shown in ''Cars 3'', he isn't quite used to the racing center's simulator and goes out of control the moment it starts up, to the point of destroying it. [[spoiler: In the [[VideoGame/Cars3DrivenToWin video game]] that follows however, he's shown to have gotten better.]]

* TheBadGuyWins: Played with. [[spoiler: While he technically does win the race and Piston Cup by ramming into the King and knocking him off the track, damaging him badly (in a very similar fashion to what happened with Doc years ago), he receives absolutely no praise or cheering after his victory, but rather a series of boos, his own merchandise being pelted at him, and likely a permanently ruined reputation as a racecar.]]

* LargeHam: When he becomes a monster truck in ''VideoGame/CarsMaterNationalChampionship'', Mater goes full ham, shouting everything he says and constantly growling and roaring.

->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/GeorgeCarlin (''Cars''), Lloyd Sherr (''Cars 2'' onward)

* SmallRoleBigImpact: He and Sarge are pretty minor characters in ''Cars 2'', but it's [[spoiler: Fillmore's organic fuel, as replaced for Lightning's Allinol by Sarge, that saves Lightning's life in the finale]].
* GRatedStoner: Never outright stated, of course, but his overall attitude, spacey nature and tendency to get deeply fascinated about things like traffic lights patterns leave very little doubt that he's probably on ''something.''
--> '''Fillmore:''' [''staring at the aforementioned blinking stoplight''] I'm tellin' you, man, every third blink is slower...\\
'''Sarge:''' ...TheSixties weren't good to you, were they?

* LaserGuidedKarma: [[spoiler: While he does unfortunately win the Piston Cup, it's still easily quite satisfying when his former fans turn on him and throw his merchandise at him, expelling him from racing permanently.]]

%%** With Holley Shiftwell.
* OfficialCouple: With Holley Shiftwell.

* SecretlyWealthy: [[spoiler:Or at least from a wealthy background. ''On the Road'' reveals that he grew up in a mansion with his sister.]]

** With Holley Shiftwell.

%%* {{Eagleland}}: Mater is viewed as a mix of Types 1 and 2 by foreign cars.

%%* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Sanguine.

%%** With Holley Shiftwell.

%%* VitriolicBestBuds: With Lightning.

%%* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Melancholic and choleric.

%%* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Phlegmatic.

%%* HappilyMarried: To Ramone.

%%* HappilyMarried: To Flo.

%%* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Melancholic.

%%* ByTheBookCop

%%* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Choleric.

* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: A bit of one, presumably due to age. Refers to the television as the radio and after mentioning Big Al in the courtroom, Ramone points out he left years ago, to which Lizzie asks Ramone why he brought him up.

* BrutalHonesty: He's a {{nice guy}}, but he also bluntly tells Lightning that he's being stupid by dismissing his pit crew.

* TokenGoodTeammate: Out of the three cars that were tied for the season (the other two being pre-character development [[ItsAllAboutMe Lightning]] and [[GreenAndMean Chick]]), The King was the only one who showed respect and wasn't a selfish or a dirty racer.

%%* PornStache: It's... Just look at it.

* ShoddyKnockoffProduct: Becomes this after Lightning vanishes, not only ripping off his trademark Lightning Bolt sticker with a Thunderbolt sticker but also knocking off [=McQueen=]'s "Ka-chow!" CatchPhrase with a much more forced "Ka-chicka!"
%%* SmugSnake

* Troll: Chick constantly taunts Lightning in the first movie. In the third movie, he also makes a lot of smug comments about Lightning’s continued losses to Storm and brags about how he “beat” Lightning in the first movie.

* [[{{FanGirl}} Fan Girls]]: To Lightning [=McQueen=] (and at one point Chick Hicks) in ''Cars'', and Mater in ''Mater's Tall Tales''.

%%* SingleMindedTwins

%%* ValleyGirl: Both of them.

* [[{{GenkiGirl}} Genki Girls]]: They basically fill the role of cheerleaders for [=McQueen=].

* [[{{StalkerWithACrush}} Stalkers With A Crush]]: Their official Disney bio says that they haven’t missed a race in over a year, but that they’re not race fans, they’re Lightning [=McQueen=] fans. And at the end of the first movie, they moved to Radiator Springs and become waitresses as Flo’s cafe just so they can be close to Lightning.

*** ''Unidentified Flying Mater'': Pink with camo patterns and green side caps, along with "UFO" decals on their doors. (in this episode they work for the military instead of being Mater's fans, but they are nonetheless still humored by one of his comments)

** ''Cars: Race-O-Rama'': A darker red than in the first movie and lacking their stickers. (as well as their "Mater The Greater" outfits in the "Mater The Greater" Cars Toon minigame)

->'''Dubbed by:''' Creator/BernardPierreDonnadieu (European French)

[[caption-width-right:350:''"[[CatchPhrase Ka-chow!]]"'' ]]

* AlliterativeName: His real first name is [[spoiler:'''M'''onty.]]

* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: In ''Cars 3''. First Jackson Storm, then [[spoiler: Cruz Ramirez]].

* BewareTheNiceOnes: After becoming a nice guy, Lightning is usually kind, easy-going, and plays fair, but the moment when someone insults him or threatens his friends, Lightning will get serious and get payback.

* BrokenAce: At the start of the first movie, he's an extremely talented, popular, charismatic racer who was one of the three top picks (alongside [[AlwaysSecondBest Chick Hicks]] and [[TheAce The King]]) to win the Piston Cup. He's also an arrogant, impulsive {{Jerkass}} who [[MeanBoss mistreated his crew to the point where they left]] and [[LonelyAtTheTop doesn't seem to have any real friends]].

* {{Catchphrase}}:
** "Ka-chow!"
** "Speed...I am speed."
** "I'm sorry, Mater. That did not happen." (In ''Mater's Tall Tales)
** "Wow!" (a quirk inherited from his voice actor)
** "You gotta be kidding me."
* CharacterDevelopment: He goes from a selfish {{Jerkass}} to a more sympathetic JerkWithAHeartOfGold in the first movie. [[spoiler:Come the third, not only is he still the warmhearted racing legend of today, he is also a wise and proud teacher just like Doc was.]]

* DueToTheDead: [[spoiler: At the end of ''Cars 3'', he paints himself up in Hudson's colors to commemorate him.]]
* DudeWheresMyRespect: In ''Cars 3'', he gets a lot of guff about his age from Doc's old racing friends who are ironically decades older then him. And, most if not ''all'' of the next gen racers especially Storm, have little to no respect for him as a racer. Also, while she is a fan of his, Cruz unintentionally insults [=McQueen=] about his age by calling him her "senior project". For the most part, his reaction ranges from mild annoyance to agitation.
* EmbarrassingFirstName: In the tie in book; ''Cars Origins: Struck by Lightning'', his actual name is [[spoiler: Monty [=McQueen=]]]. He changed it once he became a rookie. Even Sarge comments the name ''Lightning'' is more fitting.

** However, in the same race as the above scene, he also notably races fairly without resorting to underhanded methods like Chick, and, after the race, he shows nothing but respect and deferance to racing veteran Strip "the King" Weathers, despite the two racing as direct competitors previously. Overall, despite his arrogance and ambition, it demonstrates he's a good guy under it all, and that he has a genuine passion for racing beyond simply being a path to fame and fortune.

* EtTuBrute: He felt this way after [[spoiler:Mater causes him to lose the first race in the World Grand Prix.]]

-->'''Mater:''' You hurt your what?
-->'''Lightning:''' ''I'M A VERY FAMOUS RACE CAR!!''
* FastAsLightning: He evokes this trope right in his name, and is one of the best racers to live up to it.

* FiveStagesOfGrief: Lighting hits all five beats throughout his stay in the first film: he's unfriendly toward the townsfolk at first (denial), is annoyed that he has to fix the road (anger), races Doc at Willy's Butte in an attempt to leave only to fail (bargaining), breaks down for the first time prior to his departure for the race and is reluctant to go (depression), and gives up the Piston Cup to help The King finish, realizing what is really important in life (acceptance).

* FreudianExcuse: The tie-in book ''Cars Origins: Struck by Lightning'' reveals how he became his former arrogant self as shown in the first movie: his first friend Carl betrayed him during the final race of the semester by tricking him into thinking his lug nuts are loose when really, his pitties removed them on purpose so he can win and get a sponsorship deal. As a result, he stayed away from his classmates and never made any more friends, vowing never to trust anyone.

* GratuitousItalian: The first and second films show he can speak at least some Italian.

* HeelFaceTurn: In the first film, he starts off as a egotistical, conceited, and arrogant racer who couldn't care less about others and cared only about his image, but later discovers that there's more to racing than just winning after hearing Doc's backstory and becomes friends with the townsfolk of Radiator Springs.
* HeroicBSOD: Suffers at least one of these in each film:

* HonorBeforeReason: At the end. He gives up his shot at the Piston Cup in favor of making sure Strip "The King" Weathers can finish his last race and retire with dignity, remembering what happened to Doc as a result of ''his'' big wreck.

* HistoryRepeats: Just as what happened to Doc, following the introduction of Jackson Storm and the next-gens, he suffers a violent, near-fatal crash that questions the future of his career, and worries about an imminent retirement. [[spoiler: While he doesn't retire, he still becomes a mentor to Cruz, a car who's just starting her racing career, and before that -- like what happened with The King -- she helps him finish the race.]]

* HotPaintJob: Has at least one of these in each film, courtesy of Ramone:

** The high-tech electronic suit [[spoiler: and his "Fabulous Lightning [=McQueen=]" paint job]] in the third. His regular racing paint job to a lesser extent, which features a small flame job similar to the one used for the World Grand Prix.

* IcyBlueEyes: Goes with how he was originally, when he was obnoxious and vain.

* InnocentBlueEyes: Changes to these towards the end of the film, realizing there's much more to racing than winning and friendship is more important than just that.
* InsufferableGenius: He does grow out of the jerkass attitude, but his attitude does originally stem from the fact that he ''is'' a talented racer.
* IronicName: He's male, but his surname is [=McQueen=] ("queen" being the term given to a female ruler of a country).
* {{Irony}}: In the first film, he said the reason he didn’t have real headlights is because racers don’t need them due to the track being lit at nighttime. Ironically, he receives them in the sequel.

* {{Jerkass}}: [=McQueen=] spends the bulk of the first movie as a selfish jerk who absolutely cares little for his own pit crew, forced Mack to drive all night without sleep and repeatedly badmouthed the citizens of Radiator Springs. He eventually [[TookALevelInKindness gets nicer]], but only after being [[MiseryBuildsCharacter trapped in Radiator Springs for days on end]].
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He becomes nice and likable by the end of the first movie. In ''Cars 2'', he harshly calls out Mater for his immature behavior throughout the movie, but still considers him his best friend. And in ''Cars 3'', [[spoiler: he goes on a tirade about how Cruz Ramirez is slowing him down and how she doesn't understand what is at stake for him since she is just a trainer. He then makes up for it later, when he takes her to Thomasville to find Doc Hudson's crew chief, Smokey.]]
* KarmicJackpot: [[spoiler:In the final race, when Lightning sees The King's crash, he gives up the Piston Cup (even if it means Chick will win), just so he can make sure The King can finish his final race and retire with dignity. The whole crowd cheers Lightning on for his sportsmanship and recognizes him as the true winner of the race instead of Chick, and he is even offered the Dinoco sponsorship, which he has always wanted. He politely turns it down, but he keeps his promise to Mater by getting him a ride in the Dinoco helicopter.]]

* LikeASonToMe: In ''WesternAnimation/Cars3'', Lightning remarks to Smokey that racing had been the best part of Doc's life. Smokey tells him that, while Doc did love racing, it wasn't the best part of his life. [[spoiler:Lightning was.]]

* LoopholeAbuse: Unintentionally pulls this in the third film. His agreement with Sterling was that if Lightning won, he could keep racing but if he lost, he would have to retire. Realizing he wouldn't be able to beat Jackson Storm during the race, Lighting chooses to withdraw so Cruz Ramirez can take his place in order to give her the chance to race like she had always wanted, even coaching her to victory. But since Lightning participated in the race, it still counts as his win too even though Cruz was the one who actually won it, allowing Lighting to choose whether or not to retire on his own terms. It's worth noting that Lightning didn't know about the loophole. He just wanted to give Cruz her start.
* LonelyAtTheTop: Shows signs of being on the way to this in the first movie, first indicated when Harv talks about inviting his friends to a party to celebrate winning, and Lightning struggles to name anyone. And later, when Sally admits that her previous highly-successful career wasn't very happy, he shows signs of understanding what she means before quickly covering it up with intrigue. He ultimately averts it though, thanks to making deep connections to everyone in Radiator Springs.
* MadeOfIron: There is almost never a moment where he succumbs to a lasting injury, but one exception would be falling into the cactus twice upon arriving in Radiator Springs. A larger exception would be his near-fatal crash.

* MentorArchetype: [[spoiler: Becomes Cruz's teacher at the end of ''Cars 3'' after she helps him save his job.]]

* {{Narcissist}}: Part of his original personality. The inside of his trailer was decked with trophies, merchandise and neon lights, even fancy gadgets. After dropping this attitude, the trailer has been stripped completely of the fancy stuff in favor of a simple Willy’s Butte wallpaper and photos of his friends.
* NearDeathExperience: So far, Lightning has experienced at least one of these in each film:
** In the first film, he barely manages to beat a train and also crashes into a cactus patch twice, with a saguaro falling on him the second time, while attempting to make the sharp turn at Willy's Butte, but survived. He was also almost murdered by Frank.

** In the third film, he lost control while trying to catch up to Jackson and suffered a violent crash, but survived afterwards. The junior novel even goes so far as to imply that he almost didn't make it. He was also almost killed by Miss Fritter in the Demolition Derby.

* OpenMouthInsertFoot: As Lightning tells Mater about his aspirations of fame, he tells Mater about how he wouldn't have to deal with any more "rusty old cars". Mater asks what's wrong with "rusty old cars", having Lightning awkwardly scramble to say he isn't talking about Mater.

* PassingTheTorch: [[spoiler: Ultimately allows Cruz to finish the Florida race for him under his number. When she wins, his racing career is saved, and [[MentorArchetype he becomes her personal coach.]]]]
* PreAssKickingOneLiner: He is prone to these, hence being a racer:
** "Oh yeah, Lightning's ready!" -- Normally said before he exits his trailer after doing his pre-race ritual before a big race.
** "Float like a Cadillac, sting like a Beemer!" -- Said in ''Cars'' prior to his race with Doc. Both repeat it later during the tiebreaker race when he is about to win.
** "He is SO getting beat today!" -- Said in ''Cars 2'' before racing Francesco in the World Grand Prix Tokyo race.
** "I'm coming for you, Storm..." -- Said in ''Cars 3'' after being repainted prior to his departure for the Rust-eze Racing Center.
** "You've just insulted the wrong town. Looks like our leisurely drive just turned into a ''race!''" -- Said in ''The Radiator Springs 500½'' when being challenged by the Baja pros.
* PrecisionFStrike: "I'm in hillbilly Hell!"

* RedEyesTakeWarning: In "Rescue Squad Mater" when he is being rescued from the factory and is in the hospital, his eyes are red and watery, a result of succumbing to the intense heat for so long.

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: He delivers a rather hurtful one to Cruz when he has come nowhere to being ready for the race due to helping her instead.
-->'''Lightning:''' Do you know what happens if I lose this race?! Every mile of this trip was to get me ''faster'' than Jackson Storm! ''FASTER!'' I start off getting nowhere for a ''week'', on a simulator! I lose a whole day with you on Fireball Beach! AND THEN, ''I WASTE TONIGHT IN THE CROSSHAIRS OF MISS FRITTER!!!'' I'M STUCK IN THE SAME SPEED I WAS A MONTH AGO! ''I CAN'T GET ANY FASTER BECAUSE'' '''''I'M TOO BUSY TAKING CARE OF MY TRAINER!!!!!''''' This is my last chance, Cruz! LAST! FINAL!! FINITO!!! If I lose, I ''never'' get to do this again!! If you were a RACER, you'd know what I'm talking about, BUT YOU'RE ''NOT!'' '''SO YOU''' '''''DON'T!'''''
* ReformedButNotTamed: Lightning's generally a nice guy after his stay in Radiator Springs, but he's still arrogant, loves the spotlight, and can be pretty cruel to those he's otherwise friendly to if he's annoyed by them. He gives a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to Mater in ''2'' and Cruz in ''3'' out of frustration at their apparent uselessness, but quickly regrets driving them away.

* RousingSpeech: [[spoiler: Gives one to Cruz after she takes over for him and has a HeroicBSOD after Storm taunts her:]]
-->'''Lightning:''' [[spoiler: You got into ''his'' head, don't you understand? He would never have done that if you didn't scare him! He sees something in you that you don't even see yourself. Made me believe it, now ''you've'' gotta believe it too! You are a racer. ''[[BorrowedCatchphrase Use that.]]'' ]]

* SupportingProtagonist: In the sequel.
* SweetHomeAlabama: He speaks with a light southern twang in his voice (Like his voice actor, which fades in an out time to time), hinting he's from the southern US, most likely Texas. The song "Real Gone" from the first film has the line "I was born in the south", alluding to this.

* UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist: In the first movie. ''Before'' his CharacterDevelopment.

* VitriolicBestBuds: With Mack and Mater in Cars 1 and 2. And Cal Weathers, Bobby Swift, and Cruz Ramirez in Cars 3. In ''Cars Origins: Struck By Lightning'', he was this with Carl, until his harsh betrayal.

* WhenHeSmiles: Averted as he did smile a lot even before his arrival in Radiator Springs, but the first ''genuine'' smile he flashed was when Mater deemed him his best friend, and it’s really cute.

* TheAce: Given all the tall tales he's told, [[spoiler: and proving them to be true.]]

* {{Catchphrase}}: Several of which he shares with his voice actor.

* ManChild: Mater has the mental/emotional capacity of a small child, even though he's technically an adult.

* TookALevelInBadass: As the protagonist of the sequel, he has done this. While still being [[ManChild the way]] [[TheDitz he is]], he used whatever intelligence he has left to figure that [[spoiler: Axelrod was the Lemon Kingpin]]. He also used some karate of all things on some of the Lemons and Ivan.

* UnreliableNarrator: Of his own "Tall Tales" series. Given how he adds McQueen in them it justified, but his tales are true.

* DeadpanSnarker: He has some touches of this. For example, after Lightning crashes into the cacti:
-->'''Doc:''' Was that floatin' like a Cadillac or stingin' like a Beamer? I'm confused.

* MentorOccupationalHazard: Downplayed, he doesn’t die, but he suffers a pretty serious crash at the end courtesy of [[BigBad Chick Hicks]].

* AbusiveParents: The comic Rally Race shows that before he became a racer, Chick had an overbearing father who would chastise him for helping other cars in need. He would tell him that they're a family of winners who don't "coddle losers who'll bring them down" and drilled the mindset of "win at all costs" into him.

* BorrowedCatchphrase: "Ka-chicka! Ka-chicka!" (Lightning: [[HeyThatsMyLine Hey, that's ''MY bit!!'']])

-->'''Chick:''' (after Lightning rushes out thinking he won the race) Hey, [=McQueen=], that must be really embarrassing. But I wouldn't worry about it. ''Because I didn't do it!'' Hahaha!

* DudeWheresMyReward: {{Subverted}}: Even though he wins the Piston Cup, it isn't accompanied by a cheering crowd; {{justified|Trope}} when the audience decides to boo him instead for shoving Strip Weathers off the track and displaying poor sportsmanship.

* EvilCounterpart: To Lightning [=McQueen=]. Both are portrayed as mean and arrogant racecars who cared about nothing but themselves and made fun of other cars. However, Chick goes against the racing code and actually hurts others on the racetrack, and stays that way while [=McQueen=] undergoes [[HeelFaceTurn character development]], hinting at WhatCouldHaveBeen if he hadn't ended up in Radiator Springs. At the end of the film, Chick ends up winning the final race but losing everyone else's respect for making Strip "The King" Weathers crash, while [=McQueen=] gains respect for helping Strip finish the race even when it leads to his own defeat. It's further reinforced given that he UsedToBeASweetKid who helped others, but the abuse of his loved ones turned him into a cruel Jerkass willing to do whatever it took to win, whereas [=McQueen=] ultimately improved as a person due to people being willing to push him to be better.

* HateSink: He's an utterly [[ItsAllAboutMe egotistical]] jackass who's willing to cheat and harm anyone who gets in his way, he causes a multi-car pileup solely to get ahead in the first race and later [[spoiler: causes The King to crash so badly he would have been unable to finish his final race had Lightning not sacrificed his victory to help him]]. To top it all off, even gaining his own talk show in ''WesternAnimation/Cars3'' has done nothing to humble him. This is to make his [[spoiler:eventual failure to get the Dinoco sponsorship all the more satisfying]].

* KarmaHoudini:
** During the opening race from the first movie, he somehow gets away with blatant cheating and injuring the other racers though a mass pile-up.
** The fact that by ''WesternAnimation/Cars3'', instead of being punished for what is essentially ''attempted murder'' of The King for his ill-gotten Piston Cup, Chick instead became host of a popular television show that's watched by millions, ''really'' leaves a '''sour''' taste in one's mouth.
* KarmaHoudiniWarranty: That said, it's clear that his career was ''still'' never the same again, having to give up racing before he likely got the show, the Piston Cup being the '''only''' other thing to his name, with his constant bragging about it being sure to remind his audience how he got it, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and others like his cameraman just barely putting up with his behavior.]] Even Jackson Storm, [=McQueen's=] new nemesis, [[EveryoneHasStandards finds Chick's attitude to be a bit much.]]

-->'''Chick:''' "You know that was some pretty darn good moves out there... BY ME!"
-->'''Chick:''' "I know that must have been really embarrassing, but I wouldn't worry about it... BECAUSE I DIDN'T DO IT!"

* MeaninglessVillainVictory: He [[spoiler: wins the Piston Cup only because Lightning forfeited his own chance, stopping just short of the finish line to go back and help The King after Chick rammed him off the track. This, combined with his gloating, results in him being denied the opportunity to represent Dinoco and everyone hates him and boos him off the stage at the cup presentation after seeing what a selfish jerk he is, rendering his victory hollow and meaningless.]]

* ForWantOfANail: If they didn’t mess with Mack on the highway when they did, Lightning wouldn't have gotten lost in the first place.

* UnreliableNarrator: Of his own "Tall Tales" series.