Denny Hamlin finishes 18th at Darlington after collision with Michael McDowell

Denny Hamlin recorded an 18th-place finish at Darlington on Saturday after a late-race collision with Michael McDowell. Hamlin, who entered the event as the championship points leader, initially ran near the front of the pack before a problematic pit stop relegated him to the middle of the field. The driver noted that his car was performing at its peak in the third stage prior to the contact that caused mechanical damage and hindered his speed. Despite the setback, Hamlin secured third-place stage points during the first two stages to mitigate the impact on his overall standings. The incident reduced his lead in the Chase standings from 25 points to 12. Hamlin plans to prepare for the next race in the schedule to attempt a stronger performance.

• 3:28 AMYahoo Sports — Denny Hamlin reacts to Michael McDowell run-in that derailed his day