Rich Mixon: Cars 3's Next-Gen Racer

Introduction

Rich Mixon is a secondary character in Cars 3 (2017). He is part of the new generation of Next-Gen drivers who are gradually replacing the veterans of the Piston Cup. He wears number 36 for the sponsor Tank Coat, succeeding Reb Meeker, who himself replaced Eugene Carbureski in the first Cars (2006).

📰 To understand the Next-Gen antagonist wave: Professor Zündapp, the evil mastermind.

Design and Characteristics

📘 Relive the entire movie in the full story of Cars 3.

Like the other Next-Gen racers, Rich Mixon is often described by fans as a "2017 Next-Gen SA-3" model — an unofficial designation. He stands out with a pink and white livery adorned with the Tank Coat logo. His aerodynamic profile bodywork and sharp design reflect the modernity of this generation of Piston Cup race cars.

🎨 Among the Next-Gen racers cut to the same aerodynamic profile, it is the pink and white livery with the Tank Coat logo that makes Rich Mixon recognisable: our Cars iPhone cases play the same card on your phone, an ordinary shell that colour alone makes unmistakable.

Role in Cars 3

Rich Mixon appears during the 2017 season races, notably at the Florida 500, the film's grand finale. Although he doesn't speak, he symbolizes the rise to power of the Next-Gen racers against veteran drivers like Lightning McQueen and Cal Weathers.

📰 On the handover between generations: Raoul ÇaRoule, the iconic French driver.

Next-Gen Racers and Transition

The Next-Gen racers, led by Jackson Storm, embody the modernization and evolution of motorsport. The replacement of experienced drivers like Reb Meeker by Rich Mixon illustrates the generational transition at the heart of Cars 3. Pixar highlights the clash between tradition and technology, a central theme of the film.

Appearances in Merchandise

Mattel released Rich Mixon as a 1:55 Die-Cast figure in the Next-Gen Piston Cup Racers line, as well as a Fireball Beach Racers edition (Target exclusive). These models faithfully reproduce his #36 and his Tank Coat livery. He is also playable in the video game Cars 3: Driven to Win, where he is unlocked after 85 skill checks.

🏁 Mattel released the 36 as a 1:55 die-cast and in a Fireball Beach Racers edition, but a Next-Gen on his own has nobody to overtake: our Disney Pixar Cars 3 cars line up a whole pack for him on your bedroom carpet.

📰 For the data & media RSN angle: Natalie Certain, the brilliant analyst.

Anecdotes

• The name Rich Mixon is sometimes interpreted as a pun inspired by Richard Nixon — unconfirmed theory by Pixar.
• The succession of the Tank Coat sponsor follows this lineage: Eugene Carbureski (Cars 1) → Reb Meeker → Rich Mixon.
• His design incorporates the typical lines of Next-Gen racers, with integrated bumpers and lightweight wheels optimized for speed.

🧵 The Tank Coat badge changed hands three times, from Eugene Carbureski to Reb Meeker and then to Rich Mixon, without ever letting go of number 36; with our Cars badges and patches, you are the one who picks the jacket you sew yours onto.

Summary Table

Also read: the Next-Gen drivers of Cars 3.

FAQ

• Does Rich Mixon appear anywhere other than in Cars 3?
  No, only in Cars 3 and its merchandise.
• What is his race number?
  Number 36.
• What is his main color?
  Pink and white, in the colors of Tank Coat.
• Who preceded him at Tank Coat?
  Reb Meeker, and before him Eugene Carbureski.

Conclusion

A secondary but significant character, Rich Mixon illustrates the technological transformation and generational transition of the Piston Cup. His distinctive design, his Tank Coat livery, and his presence at the Florida 500 make him a symbol of the Next-Gen takeover. Appreciated by collectors, he perpetuates the Tank Coat lineage in the Cars mythology.

Tank Coat Team

Car Cars 3 Piston Cup No.36 - Rich Mixon

With his Tank Coat livery No.36, Rich Mixon brings his Next-Gen touch to your miniature race track.

22.90 € View car