CONCORD, N.C. — The format for the first NASCAR race of the year will be determined by race fans.

Fans will be able to vote on the length of the race segments, pit stops and how many cars will be eliminated after the second segment of the exhibition Sprint Unlimited scheduled for Feb. 16 at Daytona International Speedway. The race was previously known as the Budweiser Shootout, and is the official kickoff for Speedweeks.

The lineup of 22 drivers will be comprised of 2012 pole winners and past Shootout champions. Fan can vote on NASCAR's new mobile app or at NASCAR.com. Votes on the NASCAR Mobile '13 app will count twice.

NEW YORK — The NFL's conference championship game television viewership is down from last season.The 2012 AFC championship on CBS in the early slot drew 48.7 million viewers; Sunday's game had 47.7 million viewers in the late slot. Last year's NFC title game on Fox was watched by 57.6 million people in the late slot, while this season's was seen by 42 million in the early slot.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Tom Brady's foot-up slide in the AFC championship game did not sit well with Baltimore Ravens strong safety Bernard Pollard.During the final minute of the first half, Brady slid to the ground to end of an impromptu run. The quarterback's upraised leg hit onrushing Ravens free safety Ed Reed, who emerged from the play without injury.But Pollard believes Brady should be disciplined by the NFL, which levies fines on defensive players for helmet-to-helmet hits.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Jim Caldwell will remain the Baltimore Ravens' offensive coordinator next season.Caldwell moved from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator on Dec. 9 after coach John Harbaugh fired Cam Cameron.

CLEVELAND — Anderson Varejao's season rapidly spiraled from a probable All-Star appearance to over.The Cavaliers' hustling center, who led the NBA in rebounding before he went down last month with what appeared to be nothing more than a bruised knee, remained hospitalized Monday with a blood clot in his lower right lung, a health scare that will force him to miss the rest of this season.

HOUSTON — The Houston Astros have signed left-hander Erik Bedard to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.The 33-year-old Bedard started on opening day for Pittsburgh last season. He went 7-14 with a 5.01 ERA in 24 starts. The Pirates released him on Aug. 28 while he was tied for the most losses in the majors.