Start your engines — Lightning McQueen is back. Kachow! Disney and Pixar are revving up a brand-new series in the Cars franchise, Cars: Lightning Racers, which is set to debut in 2027 on Disney Jr.

With the power of science, we now have data-driven proof that Lightning McQueen, while a capable racer, doesn’t quite match up to his sleekest rivals. NASCAR aerodynamicist Seth Dillard, whose day job ...