No bad blood for Kyle Busch

SPARTA, KY - JUNE 27: Kyle Busch, driver of the #51 ToyotaCare Toyota, stands by his car during qualifying for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series UNOH 225 at Kentucky Speedway on June 27, 2013 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images)
SPARTA, KY - JUNE 27:  Kyle Busch, driver of the #51 ToyotaCare Toyota, stands by his car during qualifying for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series UNOH 225 at Kentucky Speedway on June 27, 2013 in Sparta, Kentucky.  (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images)
SPARTA, KY – JUNE 27: Kyle Busch, driver of the #51 ToyotaCare Toyota, stands by his car during qualifying for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series UNOH 225 at Kentucky Speedway on June 27, 2013 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images)

SPARTA, Ky.—Don’t believe for a second that there’s trouble between teammates at Joe Gibbs Racing.

When Kyle Busch said Friday, “I hate Matt Kenseth,” it was a joking reference to last year’s Slinger Super Nationals at Slinger (Wis.) Speedway, where Busch felt Kenseth got the benefit of a home state call when the two squared off in Super Late Models.

The drivers will compete again outside the Sprint Cup Series on July 9 in the Howie Lettow Memorial 150 at the Milwaukee Mile. Just because Kenseth signed on with Joe Gibbs Racing this season, don’t expect the teammates to cut each other slack in the Super Late Models.

“At short track events, I hate Matt Kenseth,” Busch said to general laughter. “He cheated last year and won the Slinger Nationals. That’s why I’m never going back to Slinger. Hometown hero gets favoritism. At my home track (in Las Vegas), they would have DQ’d me three times.”

Because the Milwaukee race is scheduled for a Tuesday, the event has already drawn more than 80 entries for 43 starting spots, Busch said.

“There’s a lot of good talent that comes to that race, from the South, from the Northeast, from the Midwest and everywhere,” he added.

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.