Cruz Ramirez, a Hispanic female, is Lightning McQueen's trainer and technician at the Rust-eze Racing Center. She is known for training some of the best newer elite rookies through her unconventional training methods. She is assigned to train McQueen for the Florida 500. She attempts to train McQueen at Fireball Beach, but McQueen ends up teaching her how to race on sand. After surviving a Demolition Derby, which Cruz wins, McQueen lashes out on her for wasting his time and humiliating him on TV. Then, Cruz reveals that she always wanted to be a racer, but never found the confidence to do so.
Cruz and McQueen reconcile and head to Thomas Ville where they meet the former crew chief of Doc Hudson, Smokey. Smokey trains McQueen and inspires Cruz as well. At the Florida 500, Cruz is sent back to the Racing Center. McQueen exits the race to allow Cruz to race. Using what she's learned on the road, Cruz catches up to Jackson Storm, who tries to overtake her. However, Cruz flips over him and lands in first place. She begins to race for the Dinoco team, sporting Doc's former #51, with McQueen as her mentor. In the post-credits, Cruz has won the Piston Cup with Lightning by her side