DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing on Tuesday announced its intention to invite the top independent NASCAR-related Web sites to join a newly formed "NASCAR Citizen Journalists Media Corps." NASCAR is providing this group of new media access to cover the sport while maintaining their independence. The initial list of Citizen Journalists will be formally announced in the coming weeks.

The media landscape has changed dramatically in recent months especially for sports coverage. As the newspaper industry adjusts to a new age of information, NASCAR fans and former traditional media have taken it upon themselves to report, cover and opine on the sport. Today there are thousands of NASCAR-related Web sites. Many of these sites cover the sport on a daily basis and offer unique and fresh perspectives to a large audience.

The Citizen Journalists will be selected as part of a review process including: professionalism, reporting and commentary, use of social networking tools.

NASCAR.COM, operated by Turner Sports, will feature selected columns and views from the Citizen Journalists on the Official Internet Site of NASCAR. NASCAR.COM continues to be the preeminent source for NASCAR news, commentary and innovative video coverage, averaging 7.2 million monthly uniques this season. Other partners and many traditional newspapers have followed suit with outstanding online coverage of the sport. Likewise, dozens of independent NASCAR-related websites have been providing excellent commentary as well.

"NASCAR has the hardest working media in all of sports. We will continue to rely on the traditional media to cover the sport on a day-to-day basis, but as the media world changes so must NASCAR," NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said.

"It's fair to say that NASCAR fans are vocal about the sport and have something to say. We want to embrace that spirit and ensure they have the best access to better have their voices heard," France said.

"Many of these outlets have covered NASCAR from afar for many years, but now they have the opportunity to cover the sport up close and personal," said Ramsey Poston, NASCAR's managing director of corporate communications. "The Citizen Journalists will have the very same access as the traditional media including credentials to race events, access to media centers, press boxes, press conferences, teleconferences, news releases, video, audio, photos, stats and graphics.

"We expect the Citizen Journalists to maintain their journalistic independence and continue to provide unique points of view," Poston said.