Ryan Blaney, Darrell Wallace Jr., Chase Elliott and Daniel Suarez will join the cast of “Cars 3" this summer.
The movie, set to open June 16, tells the story of Lightning McQueen - voiced by Owen Wilson, who will be the grand marshal for Sunday’s Daytona 500. The move from Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Pictures also features Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon, Darrell Waltrip, Kyle Petty, Ray Evernham, Humpy Wheeler, Mike Joy and Shannon Spake.
In the movie, Blaney, Wallace, Elliott and Suarez play up-and-coming drivers.
Blaney’s character is Ryan Inside Laney.
Wallace’s character is Bubba Wheelhouse
Elliott’s character is Chase Racelott
Suarez’s character is Danny Swervez.
Said Suarez: “I just can’t tell you how excited I was when I got the opportunity to work with Pixar for the Cars 3 movie. I’m a huge fan of McQueeen. My bedroom in Mexico in my mom’s home, I have a ton of little cars of McQueen, I have a pillow of McQueen. I’m a huge fan.’'
Said Elliott: “I remember going to the theatre to watch (the original “Cars” movie). I was a big fan of it. I think it’s really cool to be a part of it now.’'
Zane Stoddard, NASCAR vice president entertainment marketing and content development, said the movie is important to NASCAR and it means a lot to have so many NASCAR voices in it.
“One of the most important objectives of NASCAR is to reach the next generation of fans of our sport,’' Stoddard said. “What better opportunity to do that than to align with one of the greatest animated kids franchise in history.’'