It doesn't matter if the driver in question is a champion or struggling to make the feature. It doesn't matter if the driver in question is in the headline division or running with the mini-stocks. It doesn't matter if the driver in question is a veteran of many years or just starting out.

Racers are special people, especially on the short-track level. They sacrifice their fortunes, risking their necks either chasing a dream or just trying to have a good time. Spectators turn out by the thousands to see them ply their trade, or their hobby, on a weekly basis at any of dozens of tracks throughout the Northeast.

Our mission at Raceway Media is to cover these racers. Each issue will bring you the stories of racers from the highest to the lowest ranks of racing, from the raw rookies to the wily veterans. You'll read about where they've been, where they're going, and what they think of their journeys.

While we'll concentrate on the stories of the racers in these pages, you can keep up with their progress through the season on our website. We truly offer the best of both worlds here: near-instantaneous race results posted online, with illustrated, insightful stories about the drivers, in a publication for leisurely reading, such as between practice sessions at the track.

We'll be all over the Northeast, and some more farther-flung places, looking for stories to bring you in this magazine. We're encouraging readers to bring their favorite racers and their stories to our attention, because every racer has a story, and every story deserves to be shared.