Kurt Busch's troubles with the media continued on Saturday at Michigan International Speedway.

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Kurt Busch 's troubles with the media continued on Saturday at Michigan International Speedway.

Busch had a brief, heated exchange with ESPN reporter Marty Smith after Saturday's Nationwide Series race at MIS, a week after serving a one-week suspension for making threatening comments to Sporting News reporter Bob Pockrass after the Dover Nationwide Series race.

Busch

Busch, on orders from Sprint Cup team owner James Finch, avoided talking to reporters upon arriving at MIS on Thursday. But when he finished third in the race won by Joey Logano on Saturday, he had to make a mandatory appearance in the media center.

As he waited to be interviewed, an MRN Radio pit reporter said on the live broadcast that Busch left the top-five area without interviewing.

Busch was told of the comment and replied, "That's what everybody says, don't they."

Busch then left the room to cool off. Several reporters, including Smith, with a camera crew, followed. Busch then told Smith to come over with his camera. When Smith got there, Busch said he wasn't doing interviews there, adding, "You ever hear of sarcasm?"

That led to a brief exchange during which Busch said, "You don't know how long I've been working on this."

Busch later returned to the interview room. His only comment on how it felt to return to the track after the suspension: "It was great to drive the car."

"It was a great finish, all in all," Busch added. "The restart before the final one, I was on the inside and went from third to eighth, and then the restart on the final one, I went from eighth back up to third."

NASCAR officials said Busch's exchange with Smith did not violate his probation, which was extended from July until the end of the season after the Dover incident.

Busch was placed on probation in May after a run-in with Ryan Newman on pit road after the race and for reckless driving on pit road during the race.

Busch was fined $50,000 last season after a profanity-laced verbal assault on ESPN reporter Dr. Jerry Punch after his engine failed in the season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. That led to what was described as a mutual split with Penske Racing.

Was that a hissy fit?

Say Cheese when you fire up PKL

Youve heard the saying "DOESNT PLAY WELL WITH OTHERS" well you could say he doesnt converse well with the media ? You know there are some people that just dont do live media very good at all. If you go back to when he is in Victory Circle he has a little trouble handling that too.....

Ms.Patty i do agree with ya that he gets hounded for sure.Buuuutttt don't you think he has brought this on his self? I know you will say yes. Does it make it right that they hound him ? Noooo!!! This guy makes more excuses for being a jerk then my kids did at 10 years old. James Finch asked him not to talk to reporters.K/B is suppose to be a grown man and someone has to tell him not to talk to reporters?

This jerk has no excuses left other then he is just plain stupid.

wish i could have heard his radio after he crashed on lap 3....