Briefs | Mayfield to replace Green in No. 66 car

Auto racing

Mayfield leaves Davis team for Haas: Jeremy Mayfield will take over a new NASCAR Nextel Cup Series ride four races early, replacing Jeff Green in the No. 66 Haas CNC Racing entry for the rest of the season.

Mayfield is leaving Bill Davis Racing, and the No. 36 BDR ride he is giving up will be shared for the rest of the year by Mike Skinner and Johnny Benson — regulars in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Mayfield will replace Green in the No. 66 Chevrolet beginning with Sunday's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Mayfield is 48th in the Nextel Cup standings; Green is 27th.

Skinner will drive the No. 36 Toyota for the next two Cup races, and Benson will drive the last two races of the season.

Teammates Kenseth, Edwards have confrontation: Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards, Roush Fenway Racing teammates, were caught on camera in a dispute after Sunday's Subway 500 Nextel Cup race at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia.

Kenseth was about to be interviewed when Edwards grabbed him and firmly pushed him down pit road. In videos posted on YouTube, the two are seen arguing before Edwards climbs over the pit wall. Before walking away, Edwards raised a fist as if to strike Kenseth, who flinched.

Franchitti awaits Busch Series debut: Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti plans to make his Busch Series debut Saturday at Memphis Motorsports Park in Tennessee. Franchitti will drive the No. 42 Dodge for Chip Ganassi Racing.

Cycling

UCI's McQuaid emphasizes unity: The head of cycling's governing body warns that the sport risks becoming a "travesty" and "fraud" unless it unites to fight doping.

In a conference in Paris attended by the sport's divided leadership, President Pat McQuaid of the International Cycling Union (UCI) urged colleagues to move past their differences and recognize the survival of cycling might be at stake.

"We are here because we share a common determination to stamp out doping in our sport," said McQuaid, who has been criticized by some Tour de France and anti-doping officials. "There's been so much background noise in recent years, the fact that we all still agree on one major objective is a good start for this meeting.

"Either we fix this beyond doubt or cycling as we have known it — in all its glory — will become a travesty of a sport, a fraud for the public and a shame for us in this room."

Mayo cleared: Iban Mayo, who tested positive during a drug test at the Tour de France in July, has been cleared after a second sample was negative.

Mayo, who finished 16th, was suspended without pay by his Saunier Duval-Prodir team after the positive test.

Golf

Oberholser is out of World Cup because of injury: Arron Oberholser pulled out of the World Cup because of a hand injury that will require surgery, and PGA Tour officials are searching for a replacement for the U.S. team.

Oberholser accepted a spot in the World Cup, which starts Nov. 22 in China, and he selected Sean O'Hair as his playing partner. Tour officials are working to find O'Hair a partner.

Sailing

Judge might make ruling soon: A New York judge, Herman Cahn, could rule on a battle between Alinghi and BMW Oracle over the next America's Cup in a couple of weeks, the teams said after a court hearing.

A swift decision could avoid the 33rd America's Cup being postponed beyond 2009, when Alinghi is due to defend the coveted prize in Valencia, Spain.

College basketball

Rose gets extension: Brigham Young coach Dave Rose got a contract extension through the 2010-11 season.

International basketball

U.S. women romp: Kara Lawson scored 20 points as the U.S. Select Team, guided by Storm coach Anne Donovan, routed Australia's Canberra Capitals 93-49 in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

Media

Reilly to join ESPN in June: Rick Reilly, who wrote for Sports Illustrated for 22 years, is leaving SI to join ESPN on June 1. His role will include writing for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com.

Poker

Players lobby: The Poker Players Alliance is mobilizing support today and Wednesday for legislation that would end federal restrictions against playing for money online.

Seattle Times news services