The first half of the Sprint Cup season brought some of the closest finishes in NASCAR history, a surprise manufacturer announcement and a delayed farewell tour that still has epic potential.Denny Hamlin won the Daytona 500 by inches over Martin Truex Jr., Stewart-Haas Racing announced a switch to Ford in 2017 and the team co-owner, Tony Stewart, missed the first eight races of his final Sprint Cup season with a broken back.With 18 races down and 18 races remaining -- eight Sprint Cup races left in the regular season before the 10-week Chase for the Sprint Cup -- the focus wont just remain on the championship battle.What to watch for over the second half of the season:Free agencyThe top free agents, based on points, are Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Newman, Paul Menard and Kyle Larson.Truex and Larson more than likely will stay where they are, although until they sign contracts, their teams have to worry that they might be ripe for the picking if something unexpected happens at another team.Some would think Hendrick Motorsports would want to snap up Larson to replace Kasey Kahne, but Kahnes contract runs through 2018 and support from Great Clips might be too much for Hendrick to want to try to attempt a buyout. And, frankly, the No. 5 team doesnt have the best history. If youre Hendrick, do you wait until Dale Earnhardt Jr. or Jimmie Johnson seems ready to retire before attempting to lure Larson from his current spot at Chip Ganassi Racing? Finally, Hendrick has remained loyal to his drivers in recent years, and he has stuck with them through hard times such as the past couple of years for Kahne.Newman likely will depend on sponsor Caterpillars preference but also RCR must want to get Ty Dillon to Cup. Menard also must renew his deal, and with sponsorship, could take it to another organization, but they also would need to buy a charter to be guaranteed spots in the field.The replacement for SprintThere seems to be plenty flavors of the week and even a few flavors of the month, but so far no one company has emerged publicly as the solid front-runner to replace Sprint. Walk through the garage and every couple of weeks, a new name surfaces of who will serve as title sponsor for 2017 and beyond.Its not the greatest sign for NASCAR that it doesnt have the deal done yet, but it also should not cause panic -- with the heavy drop in ratings the first two races before a more manageable decline for many other events, any company taking a serious look would want to wait and see how things developed this season with a new aero package and without Jeff Gordon.The racing has improved, and while the television and attendance figures raise concern, NASCAR should find a company willing to sponsor the series. It likely needs to get it done at least in principle by the end of August, as companies set their budgets for the upcoming year.NASCAR has wanted a 10-year deal like the original one signed by Nextel, but it probably can get more annually from a three-year or five-year deal.The sponsor not only provides the bulk of the $20 million-plus season-ending points fund but also must make a commitment to promote the sport through advertising and other promotions (not to mention NASCAR likely hoping they sponsor the All-Star Race).Tony StewartStewart has won a race in his final season. Hes in the Chase as long as he remains in the top 30 in points and he would have to have a disastrous next eight weeks to drop out.So now comes the Chase for Stewarts final season. How far can he go?Stewart will try to replicate his 2011 performance in the Chase where he turned a mediocre season into the championship by winning five of the final 10 races.That probably wont happen. But are you going to be the one to doubt the three-time champion in his last 10 races with a zero-cares-given attitude?Hendrick MotorsportsRick Hendrick celebrated his 67th birthday Wednesday. He might not have had room for any cake considering how fed up he was with his team the past couple of weeks.Hendrick Motorsports failed to put any of its drivers in the top 10 at Kentucky. The same was true a week earlier at Daytona. It was the first time since October 2011 that Hendrick failed to have a top-10 driver in back-to-back races.In looking at the past nine races, the Hendrick drivers would rank sixth (Chase Elliott), 18th (Kasey Kahne), 23rd (Dale Earnhardt Jr.) and 25th (Jimmie Johnson) in the standings.Should they be worried? Maybe.The past four races have had little to do with what the drivers will face much of the remainder of the season, as Michigan had the proposed 2017 rules package, followed by a road-course race at Sonoma, the restrictor-plate race at Daytona and another 2017 race at Kentucky.2017 aerodynamic packageNASCAR hopes to have the 2017 rules to teams in August, or at least the main parts of the rules package so teams -- and Goodyear -- can start working toward 2017.The race at Michigan appeared as a good start, and the race at Kentucky gave NASCAR a chance to see the package on a newly paved track.While it might not hurt to get one more race with the 2017 package, NASCAR probably has seen enough to try to implement many of the elements for next year. The key is lowering the corner speed and creating cars where side force is not such a big an issue so that a driver trying to make the pass cant be pinched and lose immediate control.The BrickyardAfter an incredible 100th Indianapolis 500, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway made a big push for renewals. With all that effort, where will the Brickyard 400 sit in the IMS landscape?The 2015 NASCAR race probably had 20 percent of the crowd of the 2016 Indianapolis 500, and no one expects to match it. But if NASCAR only draws 60,000-70,000 at Indianapolis, is that big enough to have an event? Can NASCAR handle being the second, third and fourth fiddle at Indy?The races at Indianapolis havent created the most drama beyond fuel mileage ones. And the Xfinity Series races at Indianapolis will have heat races. That should be, well, gulp, interesting.Daniel Suarez impactDaniel Suarez became the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR national series race when he captured the Xfinity Series race victory last month at Michigan.So whats next?It is unlikely Suarez will have a spot at Joe Gibbs Racing in a Sprint Cup car. Will someone else give him a chance in the next few years? It probably depends on if he wins again as well as the sponsorship he could bring with him.And the other question is what will happen to the NASCAR Mexico Series, where Suarez ran before coming to the United States? NASCAR has not released a schedule yet for the series in 2016, and while NASCAR still works to come up with some sort of abbreviated 2016 schedule, time is running out for any races to happen this year.Donald and HillaryIts an election year and there are 16 races remaining before the 2016 U.S. presidential election.Will Donald Trump, BFF of BZF (NASCAR Chairman Brian Z. France), show up at a race? Hillary Clinton? Or their running mates?Fans dont like it when their sports get political. But with NASCAR races in swing states such as Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia between now and mid-October, it makes NASCAR a likely candidate for candidates.If they dont make it, locals can still expect others running for federal office or governorships to use NASCAR to meet and greet and ask for votes.Dont say we didnt warn you. Custom Bucks Jerseys .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6. Oscar Robertson Jersey Large .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore. http://www.custombucksjersey.com/ . 10 VCU 85-67 on Thursday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games. Custom Oscar Robertson Jersey . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. Custom Bucks Jersey China . JOHNS, N. WASHINGTON -- Bryce Harper returned to the lineup, but neither his bat nor spot starter A.J. Cole helped the Washington Nationals in their pursuit of home-field advantage opening the playoffs.Christian Yelich homered and Dee Gordons infield single in the sixth inning scored the go-ahead run as the Miami Marlins beat the NL East champion Nationals 6-4 on Friday night.The game began following a 1 hour, 43 minute rain delay. The series opener came a day after a memorial service in Florida for Jose Fernandez. The Marlins ace died in a boating accident Sunday.Washington entered its final series of the season with a two-game lead on the Los Angeles Dodgers for home field advantage in the NL Division Series. Los Angeles played at San Francisco on Friday night.Harper went 0 for 4 with four strikeouts in his return to the Nationals lineup after sitting out the previous four days with a left thumb injury.He was rusty, Nationals manager Dusty Baker said of the right fielder. Weve got to get that rust off him before we start the playoffs.Harper said of his plate appearances, I felt great. My swing felt great.Anthony Rendon and Stephen Drew hit back-to-back home runs for Washington in a four-run fourth after Miami scored twice in the top of the inning for a 4-0 lead.Miami used five relievers including Mike Dunn (6-1). A.J. Ramos pitched the ninth for his 40th save.Sammy Solis (2-4) allowed one run in 1 1/3 innings for Washington.The Nationals honored Fernandez with a pregame video montage, by placing his No. 16 behind the pitchers mound and his jersey in their dugout. A mutual tipping of the caps across the field between players from both teams occurred as well.Nice touch by the Nationals, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said of the mound gesture. It seems like everyone has that feel for Jose. The way he carried himself and the fun that he had was really what you loved so much about him, that little kid, and that part is what seems like has taken hold on a lot of people around baseball and a lot of people around the country.Neither starting pitcher went beyond four innings and both allowed four runs. Two runs off Cole, the first of eight pitchers for Washington, were unearned.Cole, who lasted three innings, is awaiting appeal of his five-game suspension for thhrowing behind Pittsburghs Jung Ho Kang on Sunday.ddddddddddddMiamis Andrew Cashner unraveled in the fourth, allowing five hits and one walk. Jose Lobotons RBI double and Trea Turners run-scoring single in the fourth tied the game 4-4.Over the final five innings, the Nationals went 0 for 15 with 10 strikeouts and one walk.Left fielder Jayson Werth left as a precaution in the seventh inning with back tightness. He anticipates playing Saturday.Were playing for home-field advantage, which is important. But once you win the division, theres that exhale and sigh of relief, Werth said. Theres a balance there and you err on the side of caution.Yelich drove in two runs. Justin Bour had a double and two RBI singles and he scored on the hustling Gordons single off Oliver Perez.Rendon became the sixth National with at least 20 home runs this season. The 1965 Milwaukee Braves, 2003 Atlanta Braves and 2016 St. Louis Cardinals, who reached the mark later Friday, are the only other NL teams in history with six 20-plus homers.HEARTFELT MESSAGEThe Arizona Diamondbacks occupied the visitors locker room this week before Miami arrived. When the Marlins arrived, they found a touching note on a dry erase board regarding the loss of Fernandez. Dee Gordon had the most important HR of the year. Good luck fellas. Were (sic) praying for you. RIP. JF 16 -- DBacks.BABY ON BOARDNationals OF Chris Heisey is away from the team as he returned home for the birth of his second child. He is the second player on the team to leave for this reason in recent weeks. This team is a baby-making team, Baker cracked. Heisey is expected back in Washington on Saturday.TRAINERS ROOMMarlins: Mattingly said LHP Adam Conley, who came off the DL on Monday to throw three shutout innings, will be available the last two days of the season. Conley missed more than six weeks with a finger injury.Nationals: 2B Daniel Murphy (glute muscle), who last began a game on Sept. 17, isnt expected back in the starting lineup until Game 1 of the NLDS.UP NEXTMarlins LHP Wei-Yin Chen (5-4, 5.02) is set to face Nationals RHP Tanner Roark (15-10, 2.86), who needs a win to set a career-high. ' ' '
