‘Bad boy’ Busch is too good

DOVER, Del. -- As is the case at most NASCAR tracks, Kyle Busch heard the boos at Dover International Speedway.

The driver NASCAR fans love to hate no doubt had them even more exasperated when he arrived in Victory Lane -- again.

Jeers and victories, they’re pretty much routine for the tempestuous Busch these days.

“I just want to win everything, man,” the series points leader said. “That’s all I’m here for.”

Busch was simply sensational again, dominating the second half of the 400-mile race Sunday and charging to his Sprint Cup series-best fourth win of the season.

“We were able to get to the right place at the right time when it mattered most,” Busch said.

Busch has 10 total victories this season, including two in the Craftsman Truck series and four in the Nationwide series. He won for the third time in the last five Cup races.

And when the Joe Gibbs Racing driver doesn’t find himself taking the checkered flag at the end of a Cup race, he’s pretty close: Busch earned his fifth straight top-three finish and hasn’t finished outside the top 10 in any of the last seven races.

“I’ve found something that’s worked for me recently,” he said.

Team owner Joe Gibbs was in the middle of the celebration on pit road while Busch took a bow from his No. 18 Toyota and saluted his crew.

Busch increased his points lead from 94 to 142 over second-place Jeff Burton after a race in which the standings underwent a shake-up because an early wreck took out several contenders.

Busch heard the familiar boos during pre-race introductions, which only cemented his status as NASCAR’s least-popular driver. He has some fun in the role and seems to have accepted the fact he’s NASCAR’s latest “bad boy.”

“I want to thank all the fans even if they’re not Kyle Busch fans,” he said.