All the Must-Read Articles from the 2026 Turn 3 Edition of NASCAR Pole Position Magazine

What’s Happening?

The 2026 NASCAR season is hitting the summer stretch, and as always, NASCAR Pole Position Magazine is here with a look at the year so far and what’s to come as we near the 2026 Chase. Here are the absolute must-reads from the 2026 Turn 3 Edition of NASCAR Pole Position.

  • This issue features Q&A’s with Craftsman Truck Series up-and-comers like unlikely NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series rookie Patrick Staropoli and red-hot Parker Retzlaff. There are also several features on drivers from across all three NASCAR National Series, including Connor Zilisch, Lavar Scott, and Kaden Honeycutt.
  • Turn 3 also took a chance to reflect on the life and legacy of late NASCAR legend Kyle Busch following his tragic passing in May. Look out for a special feature reflecting on that heartbreaking week, excerpts from our 2023 NASCAR 75 magazine highlighting Busch’s Championship seasons, as well as many other features remembering Rowdy.
  • This issue also features returning favorites like Toxic Waste Trackside Trivia and the newly re-imagined driver posters featuring Team Penske’s Cup Series lineup. Finally, there are a few fun looks at some off-the-track news, including new NASCAR sponsor Bulovas Restorations, Mark Martin’s new book, and a look at a special show car paying tribute to one of Richard Petty’s most iconic seasons.

A Team Effort: Zane Smith’s Pit Crew Wins the 2026 Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge | p. 10

Even though the 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race had a new host track and format, not everything was different this year, as the annual Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge continued for its fourth consecutive year. For this issue, you truly had a chance to sit down with a member of Zane Smith’s winning team, Jackman Nate McBride, to discuss the pressure the team felt after setting a blazing time early on in the competition.

Remebering Rowdy | p. 14

The spring portion of the 2026 NASCAR Schedule had its highs, but also one of the lowest moments in the sport’s recent history when future Hall of Famer Kyle Busch tragically died from a brief but fatal illness. This issue pays tribute to Rowdy with a multi-page reflection on his life and legacy, as well as the emotional 2026 Coca-Cola 600 race weekend.

Bulovas Restorations Finds a Home in NASCAR | p. 40

In a sport so often carried by sponsorship from companies owned by major corporations, it’s always great when a family-run company finds a place in NASCAR. In this issue, our Joseph Wolkin sat down with the folks at Bulovas Restorations to discuss their recent sponsorship of Sam Hunt Racing’s Harrison Burton, promoting awareness for theJesse Gerhard Memorial Foundation at Talladega.

The Hard Way Up | p. 42

The start of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season has been anything but easy for Trackhouse Racing Rookie Connor Zilisch. In this issue, our Steven Taranto sat down with the rookie to discuss the difficulties of learning the ropes of NASCAR’s top division.

Smiling Through The Climb | p. 44

Keeping with the theme of young drivers learning the ropes, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Rookie Lavar Scott is going through similar challenges as Connor Zilisch. Our Joseph Wolkin sat down with Scott to chat about how he is approaching his first year in NASCAR’s second-highest level.

Kaden Honeycutt: Finding Redemption at Watkins Glen | p. 48

Kaden Honeycutt is far from a rookie in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, though; like Zilisch and Scott, he is learning new territory after signing with Tricon Garage this past off-season. I had the chance to sit down with Kaden to talk about the transition to Tricon and Toyota, as well as his breakthrough win at Watkins Glen this spring.

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