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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. Marble Water Bottle Cheap . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie. Cheap Swell Bottles . After Martin Skrtel put the Reds in front from close range at Stamford Bridge after only four minutes, Hazard hit back in the 17th with a superb strike. 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ATLANTA -- Two highly regarded second-year pitchers will try to turn around seasons that have started to go the wrong way when the Philadelphia Phillies play the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.The Phillies will send Aaron Nola (5-9, 4.75 ERA) against Atlantas Matt Wisler (4-10, 4.92) in the opener of a four-game series at Turner Field.The Braves (35-66) won the final two games of a three-city, 10-day road trip that saw them go 3-6. The Phillies (46-57) are on the third leg of a 10-day road trip that saw them go 1-2 in both Pittsburgh and Miami.Nola was expected to be the ace of the Philadelphia staff, while the Braves anticipated Wisler becoming the No. 2 man in the rotation.Nola went 6-2 with a 3.59 ERA in 13 starts at a rookie last year, then opened the season by going 5-4 with a 2.65 ERA in his first 12 starts. Since then, it has been a tough road for the right-hander, who is 0-5 with a 10.61 ERA over his past seven starts.When hes at his best, he has control of all of his pitches, Philadelphia manager Pete Mackanin said. Hes lost his control, and he needs to find a way to get it back.Nolas last win came on June 5, when he threw six shutout innings against the Milwaukee Brewers. He recorded six scoreless innings against the Miami Marlins on July 18 but was roughed up by the Pirates for six runs in six innings on Saturday.I thought I did OK until the fifth inning, Nola said after his last start. I left a couple balls up and over the plate,, and they made me pay with some big hits.ddddddddddddNola is 0-1 with a 2.57 in his only start against the Braves this season. He is 2-1 with a 1.73 ERA in four career starts against Atlanta.Wisler has had a similar flight pattern.He went 8-8 with a 4.71 ERA in 20 appearances in 2015 and was 2/3 with a 2.98 after his first eight starts this year. Wisler then began a stretch in which he appeared to lose his aggressiveness. Lately, he has been plagued by one bad inning per outing.Over his past seven starts, Wisler is 2/3 with a 5.98 ERA. He has allowed a combined 18 runs (17 earned) in his past three starts, a stretch of 15 1/3 innings.As far as the adjustments hes having to make a battle his way through, I like what Ive seen, Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. This guy doesnt have a lot of major leagues starts under his belt yet. Hes still learning and working through things. I think hes doing a really good job at it.Wisler is 1-1 with a 2.45 in two starts against the Phillies this season. He is 1-2 with a 5.12 in three career starts against Philadelphia.Atlanta will make two roster additions prior to Thursdays game. The Braves traded right-hander Lucas Harrell and left-hander Dario Alvarez to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Travis Demeritte, a versatile prospect with power who can play multiple positions. ' ' '