In an attempt to protect the drivers feet and legs, NASCAR will gradually implement changes to strengthen the car by modifying the floorboard, drivers anti-intrusion plating, firewall and footbox areas.The changes, sparked by the accidents to Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon last year, are optional for 2016, mandatory for the Daytona and Talladega races in 2017 and then all tracks in 2018.While Dillon was unhurt in his crash, Busch suffered a broken right leg and broken left foot in his February 2015 crash. Danica Patrick also had an accident in May at Talladega that concerned the drivers about the strength of the front end of the car despite her being able to walk away.NASCAR senior vice president Gene Stefanyshyn said teams designed various proposed changes, and NASCAR had done two crash tests to help determine the changes.Were replacing existing materials with materials in instances which are thicker or being formed in a way with less welds, Stefanyshyn said in announcing the changes Thursday. Also the way we attach part of it is we are creating, for lack of a better term, a zipper so we provide a lot more weld surface.Basically we are making the structure that encapsulates the driver more robust and susceptible to manage energy in a better way.Stefanyshyn said he couldnt put a percentage on how much better the drivers lower extremities will be protected but the test results show very good improvement.Its been well tested and we feel very, very comfortable and very good with the direction here, he said.The gradual implementation is so teams dont obsolete current chassis, as the new chassis will have to go through the NASCAR certification process. With the new thickness of materials, the weight changes would impact how the car races, which also could deter teams from implementing them before NASCAR makes them mandatory -- teams likely would have to be convinced they arent at a competitive disadvantage by using the new designs during the optional period.NASCAR also announced Thursday that it would use the potential 2017 aerodynamic package for the Aug. 28 race at Michigan International Speedway. It had used that package, which includes a smaller spoiler and reduced paneling of the front splitter underneath the car, in June at Michigan and July at Kentucky Speedway. Nike Blazer Sale Online .Y. -- Injured Buffalo Sabres forward Marcus Foligno did not practice with the team Monday and head coach Ron Rolston said its unlikely hell play in Wednesdays season opener in Detroit. Nike Blazer Cheap . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. http://www.cheapnikeblazer.com/ . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. Wholesale Blazers . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. Nike Blazer Wholesale Cheap . Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey last Sunday. The fine is the fourth this season for Goldson. He was fined $30,000 for a hit on the New York Jets Jeff Cumberland in Week 1. AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Matt Kenseths misfortune gave Joey Logano a chance to race for the championship.In an improbable turn of events, Kenseth came within two laps of a spot in next weeks title-deciding finale but instead was eliminated from NASCARs playoffs. Logano was gifted a victory Sunday that put him in the final four after a tense double-overtime event at Phoenix International Raceway.Kenseth had the win in hand until a late caution sent the race to extra laps. Although he cleared traffic on the restart, his teammate Kyle Busch had contact with Alex Bowman that altered Bowmans racing line.Kenseths spotter told the driver he was clear, but he actually cut down on Bowman and the contact caused him to crash.Logano saw the sequence unfolding, let off the gas early and slid into the lead after the accident. He then held off Busch in the second overtime for the win that qualified him for next weeks championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Before Kenseths accident, Logano was in danger of elimination.Im like, Oh, shoot, were out, and it was going to be so close there at the end to try to get ourselves through, and next thing you know the caution comes out and the whole game changes, Logano said. We find ourselves as the leader, and we win the race. Thats NASCAR racing at its finest.Logano won the race -- the second time in this Chase that he used a victory in an elimination race to advance -- and will compete for his first Sprint Cup title next Sunday. He will try to give Roger Penske a season sweep during the teams 50th anniversary season. Simon Pagenaud won the IndyCar title in September.Ive never felt this good about a win before, Logano said. There was so much on the line, and everyone brings their A-game when it comes to winning championships and this team did it.I feel like I just won the Daytona 500 again.Busch finished second and earned a chance to defend last years title. He will meet Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson, who is seeking a record-tying seventh championship, in Homestead.JGR, which was trying to get all four of its Toyotas into the final, wound up with only two, and Busch wasnt feeling celebratory. He said he believed his contact with Bowman triggered the accident that wrecked Kenseths season.Its really unfortunate and devastating to have the race come down like that, Busch said. Thats so frustrating and aggravating, and I feel horrible.Eliminated from the playofffs Sunday were Kevin Harvick, an eight-time winner at Phoenix who had raced in the last two finales, and his Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kurt Busch.dddddddddddd Gibbs drivers Kenseth and Denny Hamlin were also knocked out of the field.Disappointing would be the way to put it lightly, Kenseth said. Finish that race five minutes before that, looked like we had a chance to go race for a championship. It was a big swing in 10 or 15 minutes.Hamlin finished seventh after a bizarre decision not to pit with the rest of the field for track position. Although it gave him a brief lead, he was no match for drivers with fresh tires.I knew it was going to be an uphill climb, Hamlin said.PIT ROAD PENALTIES: NASCAR picked Sunday to enforce a rule against passing the pace car when a driver dips onto pit road for a stop. Martin Truex Jr.?and Johnson were both penalized for the infraction, and the punishment was holding the car for a lap on pit road.Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus were incredulous.I dont understand that in the least little bit, Johnson said on his radio. This is absolutely ridiculous, NASCAR. I have no clue what I did wrong.Johnson said he will ask for clarification this week.In 15 years, that has never been a concern, and I was always told that the last thing NASCAR wanted to do would be to penalize the leader, Johnson said. I am still baffled, and I dont know if I will stop being baffled.BOWMAN OUT FRONT: Bowman badly wants a job for next year, and his continued strong pace as the replacement driver for Dale Earnhardt Jr.?is giving him a solid case to present to prospective employers.Bowman had led just nine laps in his first 79 career Sprint Cup races. Six of those laps were earlier this year driving Earnhardts Chevrolet. A pole-winning run for Sundays race helped Bowman lead a race-high 194 laps, and he was attempting to win the race before the late accident. He faded to sixth and felt bad about his incident with Kenseth.I hate it for Matt. I would have raced the hell out of him for the win but definitely dont want to do that, Bowman said. Hate that, and it ruined our day too. So its unfortunate.UP NEXT: The season finale at Homestead, where the championship will be decided. Harvick won the race in 2014 to win his championship, and Kyle Busch won last year to claim the title. 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