Why Couldn’t Lightning Beat Jackson Storm? | Cars Theory

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Why couldn’t Lightning McQueen beat Jackson Storm? I mean I understand that he was getting older, but Lightning was one of the greatest race cars of all time! How is it possible that the winner of seven Piston Cups couldn’t figure out a way to best him? Like if it truly was his aging technology that was holding him back, why didn’t he get some upgrades for himself? I mean Lightning went through a devastating crash! Wouldn’t that have been a perfect time to rebuild him into a next gen racer? What I want to finally understand after all of these years is: what was actually holding Lightning McQueen back?

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ABOUT ME
I'm Isaac Carlson, a creator based in Orlando, Florida, and ever since I can remember I’ve loved Disney. My fondest childhood memories come from visiting Walt Disney World with my family. I grew up loving Spider-Man, Star Wars, Pixar, and the classic animated films from Disney. The stories, characters, and worlds I adored as a child eventually inspired me to create videos of my own here on YouTube, and it changed my life. On this channel, I explore the characters and worlds that ignite the child within all of us! My goal is to create a community built on wonder, positivity, and optimism where passionate fans can unite to celebrate the magic of animated films. Here, we believe dreams can come true.

Have a magical day! #pixar #cars ##lightningmcqueen #jacksonstorm #filmtheory #disney

[karlong]

The creator of cars: bro i just wanted to entertain kids not make logic💀

[elpateon]

The reason lightning mcqueen didnt upgrade himself or his engine, is because the type of racing lightning partakes in is stock car racing, meaning if he upgraded his engine or added performance parts he's no longer stock and therefore could not participate in the races.

[georgemiser]

TBH, the only way for Jackson Storm to be humbled is for him to have a similar experience to Lightning's from the 1st movie. Maybe have his career take a downturn after a false accusation-based scandal, that way, while Lightning, Sally and Mater look into the matter on the pleas of Cruz, she invites Jackson to stay at Radiator Springs for a while till the backlash dies down. There, he loses the attitude, starts making friends and embracing some old ways, maybe even gets himself a repaint. Rather than the town just teaching him, however, Storm also shows his best side by helping the town modernize a bit.

[Drace]

I honestly think it sucks they made Storm a stereotypical douche. I think he would have been a more interesting character if he were a nice guy, who is just part of this next generation of racers taking over. Make time the real enemy of Lightning's story.

[CrystalClearWithBE]

We see that Storm and the Next Gens took over the racing league. Storm's winning streak is so huge and he became the first rookie to win the Piston Cup in his first season and became rookie of that year. Later on, he attempted to make record breaking top speeds and his top speed is 214 mph which would make him unbeatable. Even though Lightning is older, he may not be as fast as Storm, but he can be smarter than Storm, just like what Smokey said.

[ishowspeedplug]

I always thought about it like basketball, The newer generation grows up watching the older generation and are implementing pro skills at a young age and becoming more comfortable and advancing those skills for years as a kid.

[Maria_Miciano_]

I believe that cars like humans have their prime time. Lightning had that time for quite a bit. Besides he did what was best in the third movie. Giving Cruz the chance to become a racer!

[DriftBone-FG]

Im honestly just very glad you included the Planes movies, Istg its like everyone forgot that ever existed

[lolmanboss]

As an engineer I can tell you this: the biggest problem with upgrading old cars is compromise with their identity. For example lets take the Golf GTI, it was one of the first compact sportscars ever manufactured. To keep up with modern day compact cars u could swap Engines and stuff... but the space is limited. You could just grow the frame by changing the chassis and body, but by doing that it will loose its identity, that can't be called a Golf anymore. This happened to many cars that came from tuning lines and not from the Manufacturers themselves. Shelby made some models where they remade the body and the car had a new Identity. Mercedes AMG borders that philosophy as well.

[erikbihari]

These movies are the kind of thing where you really don't wish going in depth, because prize for returning will be more questions then at it's start. Anyone else feels this way or i'm just fully hot air?

[DSdemon]

your theory reminds me of the 2005 film Robots. Robots start out as baby models then “grow up” by installing new parts

Edit: thanks for all the likes

[marchofempires]

Just like every athlete in life people get old and eventually retire

[danielsantiagourtado]

I think that just like humans cars have their prime and by cars 3 lightning was a legend much like the King was on the First film. The logic conclusion for his story was shown: become a mentor for a Future legend.

[ethanabel]

One of the things I have a hard time keeping in mind is that at this point it's implied that lighting is as old as the king was in cars 1. also Storm reminds we of how arrogant lighting was before radiator springs. the only difference is that storm knows the value of teamwork and is alot more passive aggressive

[LILKRANKIN]

My running theory for as to why he didn’t upgrade is because obviously the racing he’s in is their version of NASCAR which carries a list of regulations for the cars. Because he’s not a next-gen model car, he has to follow the regulations of his veteran class. Therefore he cannot simply be upgraded because it’s against the rules. My other theory being plot.

[porobotboyxxx]

I always wonder why Lightning didn’t improve to beat Storm, he even had experience.🤔

[DensetsuDBL]

I love how he says that McQueen is prob just too old to drive competitively anymore. But decides to go deeper and find the real reason, just for him to say he’s too old

[PistonCupster]

Fun Fact:
Some of the Racers from Cars 1 appear again in Cars 3 as veterans with different models, while still being the same racer. An example is Spare Mint Racer Ernie Gearson, who appears in Cars 1 as a 70s-80s body model racer, but appears again in Cars 3 with a more rounded body that is completely different to his old one. How this fits into the theory I don’t know. I think how it works is that Stock Cars can upgrade to other Stock Cars models, but can not upgrade to next gens due to vast mechanical distances. Why the lemons can’t upgrade while these racers could, inconsistent writing ig 🤷.

[xUniqueLonely]

Fun how I just rewatched Car 1, 2, 3 just now

[kiki_the_arctic_cat_girl]

This is something i wonder ever time i watch cars 3.

Wasn't it also becuase lighting started to overthink racing when it came to new gen racers appearing on the scene especially when Jackson Storm arrived?

Its like smoky said, its funny what a racer can do when he isn't overthinking things, and lighting even nearly beat cruz during training with smokys techniques.