DARLINGTON, S.C. -- Denny Hamlin retained the lead in the Chase for the NASCAR Cup Series championship even after disaster at Darlington Raceway. 

Hamlin finished 18th and left with a 12-point lead over Christopher Bell, even after hitting the wall and bending a toe link while running just outside of the top-10 on lap 239.

Just shortly after finishing third in the second stage to round out a night with 17 stage points earned, Hamlin's crew had issues securing the right-rear tire. That dropped back to a different 17 -- 17th on the first restart of the final stage.

Hamlin made up a couple of positions. Then, coming off of turn three, he misjudged a slide in front of Michael McDowell and hit the outside wall.

With no caution, Hamlin's team estimated they would lose three laps -- either by pitting and repairing the damage under green or staying out and running their pace the rest of the race, if it stayed green. 

Although the team's decision to choose the latter cost Hamlin a lap with 100 laps to go, they had a chance to diagnose the damage without losing another lap not long after that.

On lap 284, Michael McDowell spun Zane Smith and caused a caution. Hamlin's crew saw the right-rear toe link wasn't bent but that the right-front toe link was. They also believed there could be some issues with the upper control arm but wanted Hamlin to assess it under green.

"Really tight," Hamlin said over the radio.

Cautions kept breeding cautions -- two in the final 50 laps -- and Hamlin not only got back on the lead lap but he put on fresh tires for the final run of the race.

Hamlin ultimately drove his way to 18th, beating seven other lead lap cars and salvaging his points lead. 

"Certainly not the finish we were hoping for. We certainly made gains on it all day. It was really good in the short run. We got good in the long run by the time the third stage came but never got to see it through," Hamlin said.

Hamlin's biggest rival in the championship is now Christopher Bell, who won and moved to -12 to him in the standings. Bell led 46 laps while rivals Kyle Larson led 99, Tyler Reddick led 74, Hamlin led 68 and Chase Briscoe led 30. Bubba Wallace also showed himself in the daytime, leading 38 laps but finishing eighth under the lights.

Whether Hamlin has used his mulligan of the Chase remains to seen. Next is World Wide Technology Raceway Gateway where he is the defending winner of the Enjoy Illinois 300.