it was too lenient and sentenced Sharper to 18 years.Sharper was also convicted of rapes or sexual assaults in Nevada and Arizona.---1 a.m.Former NFL star Darren Sharpers to

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. should be medically cleared from his concussion in December and ready to race in the 2017 Daytona 500.Team owner Rick Hendrick said Earnhardt recently sent a text that said he was just waiting for Daytona to return to the track. Earnhardt has not raced since July 9. The Daytona 500 opens the NASCAR season on Feb. 26.He feels great. Everythings on track, Hendrick said Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Every step that we need to go through, weve gone through. I dont see anything holding us back.Hendrick said Earnhardts absence has not affected sponsorship for 2017. Alex Bowman and four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon shared the ride in the No. 88 Chevrolet. Bowman will start in Sundays Cup finale. The 23-year-old Bowman has three top-10 finishes in nine starts and has been solid in a fill-in basis. Bowmans Cup future is unclear.Hendrick said Bowman was helpless in a lot of ways in finding a ride for next season.Its not clear when Earnhardt was injured. He was in crashes at Michigan on June 12 and Daytona on July 2, and his symptoms originally led Earnhardt to believe his problem was allergy or sinus related. He raced at Kentucky on July 9 not feeling well, and when his condition didnt improve, he saw a neurological specialist who diagnosed concussion-like symptoms.-----More AP auto racing: www.racing.ap.org Custom Memphis Grizzlies Jerseys . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. Cheap Custom Basketball Jerseys Online . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. http://www.customjerseysbasketball.com/custom-atlanta-hawks-jerseys-77y.html . - Levi Browns tenure at left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers is over before it even began. Custom Minnesota Timberwolves Jerseys . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. Custom Toronto Raptors Jerseys . Cuban testified Thursday that he was upset when the companys CEO told him news that would reduce the value of his shares, for which hed paid $7.5 million. But he said he did nothing improper when he sold those shares over the next two days. LOS ANGELES -- The Latest on former NFL star Darren Sharpers final sentence in drugging rapes (all times local):10:35 a.m.A judge in Los Angeles has sentenced former NFL star Darren Sharper to 20 years in prison for raping two women and drugging two others, but under terms that would total about half that time in custody.The sentencing Tuesday marks the end of prosecutions in four states for the former all-pro safety who won a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints.Sharper pleaded no contest in a deal negotiated with prosecutors in four states. But the deal was superseded by a judge in New Orleans who said it was too lenient and sentenced Sharper to 18 years.Sharper was also convicted of rapes or sexual assaults in Nevada and Arizona.---1 a.m.Former NFL star Darren Sharpers tour of shame and punishment reaches iits conclusion in the Los Angeles court where he first admitted drugging and raping women in several states.ddddddddddddSharper faces sentencing Tuesday for a pair of rapes about three years ago.The sentence marks the end of prosecutions in four states for the former all-pro safety who won a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints.When Sharper pleaded no contest to the rapes, he agreed to serve a sentence that would require about eight more years behind bars. But that term was superseded by a federal judge in Louisiana who rejected the plea deal negotiated in four states and sentenced him to 18 years in prison.Sharper was also convicted of rapes or sexual assaults in Nevada and Arizona. ' ' '