Clutch problem, Edwards don’t stop Keselowski

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- A bum clutch didn't trip up Brad Keselowski. Neither did racing in close proximity with nemesis Carl Edwards.

Keselowski made it through pit stops despite mechanical problems, then grabbed the lead on a restart with eight laps to go and pulled away to win the NASCAR Nationwide race at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday.

"The clutch issue was something I was really nervous about," said Keselowski, a Michigan native who also won last year's Nationwide race here. "I didn't know if that was going to cost us the race."

Edwards finished second, edging a charging Kyle Busch.

Edwards and Keselowski raced side by side for a large portion of the race without incident. Both drivers are on probation for a confrontation at Gateway International Raceway last month.

"It's like both of us are probably thinking the same thing: Don't be the guy that messes this up," Edwards said. "But he raced me very cleanly, I thought we raced very well together, and that's the kind of racing that I'm sure both of us want to be doing."

It was another rough day at the racetrack for Danica Patrick, who went down a lap to the leaders early and struggled to a 27th-place finish.

■ NASCAR TRUCKS -- At Darlington, S.C., Todd Bodine led the final 47 laps at Darlington Raceway to take his second straight win in NASCAR's truck series.

Bodine held off pole-sitter Timothy Peters through two restarts to win in the Camping World Truck Series' first appearance at the track in six years.

■ NHRA -- At Brainerd, Minn., Doug Kalitta took the No. 1 qualifying spot in Top Fuel at the NHRA Nationals with a pass of 3.842 seconds at 305.49 mph, moving him past Brandon Bernstein.

Ashley Force Hood (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) led their divisions.