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"We have made several improvements from our 2003 premier issue, which was very well-received in the racing community," said Charlie Miller, Athlon's Managing Editor. "We are excited with the finished product and we think we have successfully built on what was a solid foundation."

Athlon Sports Racing ranks the Top 40 Nextel Cup drivers and has an informative Drivers Forum, where the stars of the sport discuss various hot issues. There is also a feature on the use of traction control and another on NASCAR's control of the sport. Athlon also asks Thirteen Tough Questions, and hands out its unbridled answers.

"Our independence from NASCAR allows us to shoot from the hip with some of the touchy subjects within the sport," Miller said. "We feel confident speaking our mind."

The 208-page edition has brilliant full-cover photography, which has been a staple of Athlon Sports since its inception. The magazine also contains schedules, track profiles, a Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series preview and a look at the young talent invading the sport today.

Athlon is the industry leader in publishing sports annuals, making a name for itself in college football over the past 37 years. Starting with college football in 1967, Athlon started adding titles in 1982 by publishing a preseason Pro Football annual. In 1988, Athlon added Baseball to the mix, and added College and Pro Basketball in 1994. Athlon's Golf annual was first published in 1999 with the fifth edition set to hit newsstands in February.

Here is a look at Athlon's five covers, featuring Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Jimmie Johnson, and a split cover of Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick:

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