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DARLINGTON, S.C. -- The boos and accolades matter little to Kyle Busch.

After he won Saturday night at Darlington Raceway, bowed to the crowd and celebrated, he thought about what he hasn't done this year instead of what he has done.

Even so, Busch's victory tapped various emotions. Some fawn over the 23-year-old, who has won either a Sprint Cup or Nationwide race in five of the last six weeks. Others, those in the Dale Earnhardt Jr. crowd, gnash their teeth after seeing their man finish behind Busch. Again.

With three victories in the season's first 11 races -- matching Carl Edwards' total -- Busch is on pace to win at least nine races this year.

Seeing Busch tie his season victory total made finishing second a bit more difficult for Edwards.

"Man, I wanted to beat him bad,'' said Edwards, who started 36th. "I wanted to keep him down a little bit, but he did a great job.''

Few can match Busch and his Toyota-powered car. He led a race-high 169 laps, including 82 of the final 83. Then it was off to celebrate his seventh career Cup victory. Busch, who has made 125 series starts, has won as many races as former champions Dale Earnhardt Sr. and David Pearson did in their first 125 starts.

Although Busch seems unstoppable, he knows that's not true. So he doesn't reflect as much about his victories.

"I'm looking more at the races that I didn't win, what we need to do to improve on those than what I did,'' Busch said. "I wouldn't say that I'm not impressed with what I've done. But I feel like there could have been more (victories). Hopefully ... I can go to Charlotte (this) week, I can either win a truck race or the All-Star race or both. That would be awesome.

"Then going into the 600 weekend, either win the 600 or have a great race car in the Nationwide race and try to win that thing.''

Even if Busch downplays his recent run, others don't.

"I don't know if it's a bit of a tear, I think it's a big one,'' said sixth-place finisher Matt Kenseth.

Jeff Burton, who finished 10th, said: "They are just in a league of their own.''

Busch is in his own league as far as fan response. Few drivers have received such a hearty chorus of boos as he did when he was introduced before the race.

"I don't care,'' Busch said of the crowd reaction. "I'm here to race. I'm here to win. If I win, it just makes them more upset and crying on their way home.''

Busch haters had little to cheer about when he led early. His fortunes changed during a caution that began on lap 141. Busch fell outside the top 20 after he was penalized when his crew left a lug nut off his rear wheel. He recovered and returned to the lead by lap 270 in the 367-lap event.

The lug nut problem might have beat him before, Busch admitted.

"A year ago or two years ago, I probably would have just thrown my hands up and wrecked the thing,'' he said. "But I'm getting smarter ... to where I know that we've still got a long race."

Busch increased his points lead to 79 over Burton.

Jeff Gordon finished third and moved into the top 10 in points for the first time since late March. Earnhardt Jr. finished fourth for his eight top-10 performance this season. David Ragan continued his strong early run, finishing fifth and moving into 12th in the points.

"You've just got to work hard,'' Gordon said of trying to beat Busch. "We were unstoppable last year. We worked hard to get into that position. Other teams worked hard to catch us and pass us. That just shows you ... just how tough and how competitive this sport really, truly is.''

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dustin.long @news-record.com