KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- NASCARs two top technical officials on Friday explained the rationale behind rule changes for the 2017 season that were released to competitors earlier this week.The minor changes are being made to improve safety and hopefully create more competitive racing.Modifications for Sprint Cup Series cars include a smaller rear spoiler and shallower front splitter, intended to reduce the overall downforce level. The 2017 rear spoiler will measure 2-3/8 inches by 61 inches.NASCAR ran Sprint Cup Series races this summer at Michigan International Speedway and Kentucky Speedway using a 2? inch by 53-inch spoiler in an effort to simulate the 2017 aero package, but the competition was not as close as hoped.Our objective here is to get more off-throttle time for the drivers, said Gene Stefanyshyn, NASCAR senior vice president of innovation and racing development. If we take downforce off, the corner speed will slow down and the driver will be off-throttle more. The splitter and the spoiler reduction was done in concert because we wanted to retain the same balance in the car.We tried a 53-inch wide spoiler but went back to the 61 after we got some feedback from the drivers, he added. They just needed a bit more in the rear, so we fine-tuned it that way. It gives the car a bit more stability.Drivers were generally positive in their reaction to the new rules.I believe anything we can do to take aerodynamic dependency away from these cars makes the racing better, makes it more fun and showcases the drivers talent and the crew chiefs ability to change, said Carl Edwards of Joe Gibbs Racing.?Thats good stuff.We are all wanting slower center of corner speeds, added six-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, who will remain at Kansas on Monday to test the 2017 package in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.We all feel that will put on a better race. Directionally, that is the way the sport is going and I think the smaller spoiler is going to help us.For restrictor plate races at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, the plate openings have been decreased by 1/64 of an inch in an effort to reduce horsepower and contain speeds.NASCAR will also reduce the number of tires allotted to competitors on race weekends and will require drivers to start races with the tires used for qualifying.Safety changes include a strengthened floor section near the pedals and modifications to the steering column to prevent the steering wheel from pushing back into the cockpit in a frontal impact. Roof hatches will be mandatory at restrictor plate tracks and optional elsewhere.We work on safety on an ongoing basis and agree as an industry that there is no compromise when it comes to safety, Stefanyshyn said. When we do find something and its significant and needs to be handled, we will handle it in a proper way.NASCAR continues to crack down on efforts to create a rear-steering effect by skewing the angle of the rear axle, and rules regarding chassis construction in the rear axle area have been tightened up for 2017.Friday at Kansas Speedway, Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson were held out of the first 30 minutes of Cup Series practice because they attempted to bring their cars back into rear axle angle compliance after last weeks race at Charlotte Motor Speedway by violently swerving during the cool-down lap.We asked them not to swerve and they swerved, so theyre in the garage, said Scott Miller, NASCAR senior vice-president of competition. That was pretty specific. We told them [in September at New Hampshire Motor Speedway] that we would look at our resources after the races, and weve been doing that.Stefanyshyn and Miller added that while they hope the 2017 package forms a solid base for the long term, they would not rule out NASCAR selectively testing out new ideas during races as it prepares for 2018.Nothing ever stays the same, so moving forward, we will look at more efficient ways to actually potentially test possible packages for the future, said Miller. I think we did a good job the last couple of times with the races. Thats really the best way to collect data - at an actual event.Hopefully we can get out in front of it a bit further with a bigger cross section of race tracks if we have some proposed new things in the future. Nike Air Force 1 Just Do It Blanche Pas Cher . LOUIS -- The New Orleans Saints looked like a team playing out the string. Nike Air Force 1 07 Femme Pas Cher . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . http://www.siteairforce1pascher.fr/air-force-1-high-soldes.html . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. Nike Air Force 1 Low Pas Cher . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery. Air Force 1 07 Pas Cher .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers. DETROIT -- When the Detroit Tigers spent millions last offseason to sign Jordan Zimmermann and Justin Upton, it appeared they extended their window of opportunity to challenge for a championship for another couple of years.One of those chances went by the wayside in 2016.The Tigers were eliminated from the AL wild-card race on the final day of the season, missing the playoffs for a second straight year. It was a bitter disappointment for a team that came into 2016 with a payroll around $200 million and a roster still built around Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander -- two stars who had very productive seasons but are now in their mid-30s.A lot of hard work for naught, Verlander said. You cant say a wasted year because we battled and we gave it everything we had. ... Still, all the hard work in the offseason, all the hard work during the season, and then it comes to an end on the last day. Its tough.Detroits 86-75 record was a 12-game improvement over 2015. The Tigers have not made any announcement about the future of manager Brad Ausmus, but general manager Al Avila can keep the roster largely intact if he wants to. Its not until after the 2017 season that Detroit could face substantial losses in free agency.Here are a few things to know heading into the offseason:YOUNG ARMSWhen the Tigers acquired Michael Fulmer, Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd last year in trades for Yoenis Cespedes and David Price, Detroit hoped those three could provide young, cost-controlled pitching in the seasons to come. The Tigers reaped the rewards of those deals even earlier than expected.Fulmer went 11-7 with a 3.06 ERA in 26 starts. Norris wasnt healthy enough to make that kind of impact, but he was 4-2 with a 3..dddddddddddd38 ERA and averaged more than a strikeout per inning. Boyd was 6-5 with a 4.53 ERA.Those three pitchers are perhaps the biggest reason Detroit was able to stay in the postseason race all the way until the end.WILL BRAD BE BACK?The Tigers are 250-234 in three seasons under Ausmus, and theyve finished first, last and now second in the AL Central on his watch. Ausmus did not want to speculate about whether hed be back next year.If Al thinks he would rather have someone else, I would respect his decision, Ausmus said. If Al would like me to do it, I would love to do it.FEAST OR FAMINEZimmermann and Upton, the two big free agents who joined the Tigers last offseason, went through their share of frustration. Zimmermann was 5-0 with a 0.55 ERA in April, but his season ended up being ruined by neck problems, and he finished with an ERA of 4.87.Upton hit 31 home runs, 18 after Aug. 20.COMING AND GOINGDetroit infielders Erick Aybar and Casey McGehee and catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia can become free agents, and the Tigers have team options for next season on outfielder Cameron Maybin and closer Francisco Rodriguez.Detroit can keep all its biggest stars for 2017, but after that, Upton and J.D. Martinez can become free agents.STAYING HEALTHYThe Tigers had their share of injury problems this year, but they had to be encouraged by Cabrera and Verlander, both of whom were able to stay healthy. Victor Martinez also was available to play in 154 games and hit 27 home runs after managing just 11 the previous season.---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister ' ' '