Briefs | Bud reportedly might have eye on Kahne

Auto racing

Budweiser reportedly seeks replacement for Earnhardt: ESPN.com reported Budweiser is unlikely to sponsor driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. with new team Hendricks Motorsports next year and added that Anheuser-Busch is negotiating with Evernham Motorsports to perhaps move the Bud sponsorship to the No. 9 Dodge driven by Kasey Kahne of Enumclaw.

Team owner Ray Evernham has an agreement with Dodge, through the Dodge Dealers, to sponsor two cars — including Kahne's — through 2010. Dodge would have to agree to any deal to allow Bud to move to Kahne's car, ESPN.com said.

IRL issues sanctions: Drivers Tony Kanaan and Sam Hornish Jr. have been fined unspecified amounts and placed on probation for the rest of the year for their roles in a fracas Sunday in Watkins Glen, N.Y., Indy Racing League officials announced.

Kanaan's team, Andretti Green Racing, and Hornish's team, Team Penske, were fined $25,000 each for unsportsmanlike conduct on pit road. The teams are also on probation until Dec. 31.

The altercation at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix broke out when the drivers exited their cars. Hornish's father pushed Kanaan — and was knocked to the ground by members of Kanaan's crew. Sam Hornish Sr. has been suspended from pit lane for one race.

Unser Jr. won't fight Nevada DUI charge: Al Unser Jr., a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, will plead no contest to a charge of driving under the influence stemming from a January crash on a Nevada freeway, officials said.

Fike, fiancée released: Aaron Fike, a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver, and his fiancée, Cassandra Davidson, were released after spending the weekend in jail on drug charges, Fike's attorney said.

Fike and Davidson, both of Cornelius, N.C., were arrested Saturday in the parking lot of Kings Island amusement park in Mason, Ohio.

Both were charged with drug abuse, a felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.

Trial on the misdemeanor charge was scheduled for Aug. 28, and a preliminary hearing on the felony charge was set for July 19.

College basketball

Missouri player accused of using shotgun to strike man: Missouri senior center Kalen Grimes was accused of striking a man in the face with the butt of a shotgun during a skirmish Saturday, police said.

The St. Louis County prosecutor's office said formal charges of second-degree assault were pending against Grimes. Tigers coach Mike Anderson suspended Grimes indefinitely Monday for violating team policy.

International football

U.S. gets off to strong start: Bobby Awrey scored on an 85-yard opening kickoff return, helping the United States rout South Korea 77-0 in the first game of the six-nation American Football World Cup in Kawasaki, Japan.

Soccer

Ching is a star: Houston's Brian Ching, a former Gonzaga and Seattle Sounders standout, was among seven players added to the Major League Soccer All-Star roster. The MLS All-Stars will play Celtic FC of Scotland on July 19 in Commerce City, Colo.

Other players added were goalkeeper Kevin Hartman of Kansas City; defender Eddie Pope of Real Salt Lake; midfielders Cobi Jones of Los Angeles, Ronnie O'Brien of Toronto FC and Pablo Mastroeni of Colorado; and forward Landon Donovan of Los Angeles.

Brazil advances: Brazil beat Uruguay 5-4 on penalty kicks after the teams tied 2-2 in regulation of a Copa America semifinal match in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Brazil will play either Mexico or Argentina in Sunday's final.

Youth baseball

Judge doesn't reduce coach's sentence: A judge in Uniontown, Pa., refused to reduce the sentence of Mark Downs Jr., 29, a former coach convicted of offering a player $25 to bean a 9-year-old autistic teammate. Downs received a one- to six-year prison sentence last year and is free on bond while he continues the appeal process.

College athletics

Michigan switches to Adidas: Michigan signed an eight-year contract with Adidas, ending a relationship with Nike. Adidas gave Michigan a $6.5 million signing bonus in an equipment-and-shoe deal worth $3.8 million in cash annually to the school through the 2016-17 academic year.

World Series of Poker

Banghart leads: Jeff Banghart was the chip-count leader in the no-limit Texas Hold'em main event in Las Vegas.

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