No bad blood

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.