STATESVILLE, N.C. — Kasey Kahne is the new beer man, picking up Budweiser as the primary sponsor for his No. 9 Dodge.

The sponsorship was announced at Gillett Evernham Motorspots, where Kahne entered the event on the famed Budweiser Clydesdales.

Bud became the most valuable sponsorship in NASCAR when it teamed with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2000. But Earnhardt is leaving DEI for Hendrick Motorsports at the end of this season, and he’ll announce a new sponsor Wednesday in Dallas.

PRO FOOTBALL

Johnson joins Cowboys

IRVING, Texas — Suspended defensive tackle Tank Johnson signed a two-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys.

Johnson, who played the past three seasons for the Chicago Bears, can’t play for the Cowboys and won’t be paid until he completes his eight-game NFL suspension for violating probation on a gun charge. He has served the first two games of that suspension and will still have to apply for reinstatement.

Johnson signed after visiting with the Cowboys and taking a physical. He will make about $255,000 this season, the prorated portion of a minimum contract.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Texas player arrested

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas freshman running back James Henry has been charged with two felony counts of obstruction and tampering with evidence, making him the sixth Longhorns player arrested since June.

Henry, arrested Monday, is accused of beating up one of the victims of a July home invasion that allegedly involved two other players, Andre Jones and Robert Joseph.

Henry was booked into Travis County Jail where bond was set at $30,000. He was released Tuesday morning and coach Mack Brown said he was suspended indefinitely from the team.

HOCKEY

League may return to former scheduling

CHICAGO — NHL teams could be back to playing every other club in the league by next season.

The board of governors from the 30 teams met and moved closer to ditching the unbalanced schedule put it place after the lockout wiped out the 2004-05 season.

Although a vote won’t take place before the group meets again in November, there was a clear indication that the often-criticized schedule would soon be scrapped.

“We had a preliminary discussion about the schedule, and I think it’s clear that there will be a change,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said after the four-hour meeting. “That’s something that we will work toward effectuating at the (next) meeting.”

Goalie Burke retires

TORONTO — NHL goaltender Sean Burke officially retired after nearly 20 years in the league.

Burke spent last season with the Los Angeles Kings, and played for nine teams during his career, which also included playing for Canada in the 1988 Olympics.

Selected 24th overall in the 1985 draft, Burke reached the NHL near the end of the 1987-88 season with the New Jersey Devils. Burke, 40, also was with Hartford, Philadelphia, Carolina, Vancouver, Florida, Phoenix and Tampa Bay.