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HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Four drivers will compete for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway with the intensity for the trophy unchanged but for a champions bonus less than half of last seasons, sources tell ESPN.The overall point fund last year was $21.765 million, with the champion slated to earn about $4.7 million (Kyle Buschs take was less because he missed 11 races), and this year it will be less than half that amount.Second place last year paid $2.1 million, third $1.58 million, with seventh place on back earning less than a million.As part of the new charter system and in an effort to make their revenue stream more predictable, NASCAR and the team owners Race Team Alliance agreed to pay the champion less but spread the point fund more equitably throughout the top 25 drivers and teams.Drivers typically get paid a percentage of purse and point-fund money in addition to a base salary.The champion should get his level of money and then [Nos.] 2 through 4 should get his level of money and then each Chase [elimination] bracket should get their level of money, said Busch, who indicated he did not favor the new formula. What they tried to do is they tried to even it out from first all the way back to last in order to make the sport more sustainable for everybody.When youre the driver and not the owner and youre taking home a percentage of that, that hurts you really bad. It was done through the RTA. It wasnt done through the driver council. So we had absolutely no say in it so thats why its the way that it is.The overall point fund increased in 2016, NASCAR Chief Operating Officer Brett Dewar said, but he wouldnt elaborate, citing confidentiality clauses in the charters, about the distribution.The teams obviously had to share with the drivers what they were getting from NASCAR as they reworked agreements based on the new system unveiled in February.I think it is a million-and-a-half to win a Cup, six-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson said. The last time I stood on stage, it was 7-and-a-half [million]. Its a huge change.Sources familiar with the charter agreements indicated the 2016 bonus to the championship team is much closer to $2 million than $1.5 million. The last time Johnson was on stage, in 2013, the champion bonus was $5.2 million, with Johnson and his team having total earnings of $14.66 million. Johnson and his team did get a $7.225 million champion bonus in 2008.It doesnt matter, Busch said. To me, how Ive always looked about it ... Ive always raced to achieve what I want to achieve based on success and results.It hasnt been for the money. You do want to get paid for what you do. You want to get paid well if youre better at what you do. It all comes down to taking home trophies.NASCAR stopped publishing how much money a driver earns for the team each week in the purse and does not plan to publicize the bonus structure as it has in the past, citing the new charter system structure.The first race I won was $125, championship finalist Carl Edwards?said. We dont race for money, but Im sure it pays fine. ... Im not too worried about that part of it.The 36 charter teams get dollars from two pools of money based on participation -- a fixed amount each team gets, and then an amount based on the teams finishes the previous three years, most heavily weighted to the previous season, which means that the champion will earn more for his team over the next three years than if he had finished lower in the standings.Charter and non-charter teams vie for the same amount of purse money for each race through the field (obviously less than in past years because much of the money is part of the fixed amount) and year-end bonus money that goes to the top 25 owners and drivers.Early in the year, there was shuffling around, drivers getting their agreements situated, Johnson said. The money is still coming to the teams but where it goes and how the agreements read, from a purse standpoint, traditional purse standpoint, it is what it is.There are a handful of agents and lawyers who handle most contracts for drivers, who at the start of the year said the teams for the most part worked with them to try to adjust their pay scales to the new formula as it is no longer as simple as a percentage of the purse.Theres a whole formula involved, Busch said. Its quite confusing. So Im not exactly sure if Ill make 100 percent of what I made last year [if I win the title] or 80 percent or something within there. I dont know exactly.The drivers will find out how much money they make when the check comes.I dont even know what it pays to win this thing, finalist Joey Logano said. I will care, yes, but really my goal is to beat everyone. That is the biggest reward that you can feel from inside, that moment of victory, not the moment of the check.That is still really cool and you can do a lot of really great things with [the money] ... but that [winning moment] is the coolest thing.Wholesale Air Max 1 NZ . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. Cheap Air Max NZ . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars. http://www.airmax1salenz.com/ . -- Matt Rupert scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the London Knights extended their win streak to nine games by defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Clearance Air Max 1 NZ . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Discount Air Max 1 NZ . Louis. To which I would say two things: 1. Where there is smoke, there is or perhaps has been a little fire. Or, in other words, the two teams would appear to have at least spoken. And spoken is defined as one calling the other to inquire, no more, no less.This story appears in ESPN The Magazines Sept. 5 NFL Preview Issue. Subscribe today!Todays NFL offenses are wide open. Spread the field, throw the rock, and run the ball versus nickel fronts. At times, this is basketball on grass -- where height, weight and speed rule in three wide receiver sets. Create the matchups and play with a lightning-quick tempo to expose outdated defensive personnel.However, defenses are beginning to counter this fast-break style of football with more versatility on the field, creating a new brand of hybrid personnel to eliminate those matchups. These defenders are the future of the league. They are the answer: athletic, fast and unique. They can run with speed down the field, tackle in run support and check guys in space. And every team is looking for that next one in the draft.The league is changing. So is scouting. And the game we once knew is now faster than ever before. Welcome to the modern world of NFL football where the monsterback is king in the defensive game plan.How would you build the perfect beast? By combining the best attributes of these monsters:Tyrann Mathieu Safety | CardinalsBALL SKILLS: Mathieu has ridiculous playmaking skills when the ball is in the air, with five INTs and 17 passes broken up last season. Although he lacks size (5-foot-9, 186 pounds), his versatility allows him to match up with anyone.Kam ChancellorSafety | SeahawksTACKLING: Chancellor has thunder in his pads. Hes intimidating in the box but also a technician when it comes to tackling (449 tackles in five seasons as a starter). He can wrap, drive the legs and dump the ball carrier on the ground. Teachinng-tape stuff.ddddddddddddLavonte DavidLinebacker | BuccaneersRANGE/SPEED: David has the burst of a safety when he breaks on the ball. He can cover ground, eliminate space and close against the pass or run (10 tackles for loss, 13 passes defensed in 2015). From sideline to sideline, David can fly.Deone BucannonSafety | CardinalsVISION: Bucannon plays at a lightning-fast pace because of his eyes: He sees it and goes. His 11 tackles for loss last year were the result of an electric first step to track the ball against the run and the burst to find daylight in blitz schemes. Meanwhile, he has the speed to match up in the passing game.Luke KuechlyLinebacker | PanthersINSTINCTS: A true impact player, Kuechly expertly reads NFL offenses. He can close the middle of the field and run through ball carriers. But with 10 passes defensed and four INTs in 15 (in 13 games), he puts up numbers expected from a free safety, not a middle linebacker.Jamie CollinsLinebacker | PatriotsCOVERAGE/HIPS: Big boys like Collins (6-3, 250) shouldnt have the speed to rush the passer and drop in coverage. But this cat does it all: 5? sacks, eight tackles for loss, six passes defensed, five forced fumbles-and provides endless game-plan possibilities.Mark BarronSafety | RamsAGILITY: Hes an impact hybrid player with multiple roles in the run front (16 tackles for loss) and in coverage (five passes defensed). Barron has a smooth pedal and the ability to plant, drive and close, and he moves with quick feet and lateral speed. ' ' '