In brief: Kahne knee surgery; Trucks driver DUI arrest

Kasey Kahne is recovering from outpatient knee surgery undertaken on Friday morning in Charlotte NC, after an MRI scan for swelling on his left knee revealed a torn meniscus.

The common arthroscopic procedure, called a partial medial meniscus removal, is a minor and non-invasive type of surgery.

Kahne does not expect the surgery to have any impact on his scheduled d?but in the #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet at Daytona. The team said that they had no plans to schedule a back-up driver just in case.

Kahne also plans to race for Turner Motorsports in the Nationwide Series season-opening event in less than two weeks time.

It's not the first time that Kahne's knees have given him problems. In April last year, he needed a similar procedure on his right knee but bounced straight back to claim third place in the next NASCAR outing at Richmond.

Prior to that he also needed surgery on both knees in December 2010 to repair a condition known as "plica syndrome," which is the result of a buildup of tissue in the knees.

Truck Series driver suspended over drink driving charge

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver John Wes Townley has been suspended by his team, RAB Racing, following an arrest last Tuesday morning in his native Georgia for allegedly driving under the influence.

"Obviously, this is an unfortunate situation," team owner Robby Benton said Friday in a statement. "However, we have to react to the severity of the incident accordingly. His actions do not reflect those of RAB Racing, nor the sponsors associated with the team.

"John Wes has accepted full responsibility, and will take the necessary personal steps in order to correct his actions, among other internal sanctions. We stand by John Wes, and will welcome him back to the team at the appropriate time."

The team still intend to field their #09 Toyota Truck at Daytona next weekend, but said that they were "in no hurry to settle on who to put behind the wheel. We'll do our due diligence before making that decision."

According to the Oconee County Sheriff's Department Facebook page, "Mr Townley was arrested for DUI and failure to maintain lane in connection to vehicle crash nearby. The case is still pending, and no additional charges are expected to be filed."

The local newspaper, the Athens Banner-Herald, additionally reported that Townley was disoriented, seemed intoxicated and was bleeding from his feet. His car, a 2012 BMW, had run off the roadway and hit a telephone pole.

22-year-old Townley had been scheduled to make his first Truck Series appearance in over three years at Daytona. He has seven career starts in the series and 38 in Nationwide.

Townley had previously been cited by the police for underage possession of alcohol during the Las Vegas race weekend in 2010.