2006: Disney/Pixar’s ‘Cars’ Hits the Roadway

It was on this day that Disney/Pixar’s film, Cars premiered at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina. (The movie came to theaters on June 9.) A number of racing stars including Richard Petty and Darrell Waltrip were there. They also voiced roles in the animated film as well. Directed by John Lasseter, the movie was set in a fictional world where everything revolves around cars and is only populated by automobiles. Cars was the last Pixar film made before the company was purchased by Disney. It also has the distinction of being Paul Newman’s last acting role. Other voice talents in Cars included Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt, Larry the Cable Guy, Tony Shalhoub, Cheech Marin, Michael Wallis, George Carlin, Paul Dooley, Jenifer Lewis, Guido Quaroni, Michael Keaton, Katherine Helmond and John Ratzenberger. Cars was nominated for two Academy Awards including Best Animated Feature, but it lost to Happy Feet. The film led to two sequels and its own “land” at Disney’s California Adventure theme park in Anaheim, California.