Daniel Suarez and Alex Bowman: Dumb and Dumber? Harvick, Hamlin "should've," Larson did

While playoff drivers dominated Sunday’s postseason opener at Darlington, eventually won by Kyle Larson, a couple of guys outside the playoff picture stole the headlines.

Or at least this one.

Daniel Suarez and Alex Bowman got tangled up late, causing a crash and some pointed postrace comments.

With 49 laps left and with both in the top 10, Suarez got a run and moved to the inside with Bowman blocking. Suarez then swung high, but Bowman blocked again and while Suarez lifted the first time, he didn’t the second, sending Bowman into the wall and Suarez spinning.

SPEED FREAKS: While Kyle Larson back in gear, is Denny Hamlin forever doomed?

“He has to use his brain a little bit more,” a dejected Suarez said. “He’s smarter than that. He has five minutes of being a dummy and he used it against (us) I guess.”

It’s not the first time the two have gotten together. And while Bowman admitted it wasn’t the right move to make on Sunday, he insisted that “dumb” moves have been made by Suarez as well.

“Every time I race (Suarez) he does something dumb, whether it’s his crew chief flipping me off on the way to the airport or just anytime I’m around him, he blocks me really aggressively,” Bowman said.

While a conversation between the two will likely be had, Suarez said he needed time.

“Right now, I’m a little bit too heated,” he said. “I hope I don’t see him in the next 15, 20 minutes.”

We hope you’ll spend a few minutes with us as we go through the gears.

First gear: Kevin Harvick "coulda" won Sunday's race

Kevin Harvick didn’t comment on his most recent heartbreaker on Sunday as his quest for a win in his final season continues. But crew chief Rodney Childers did.

Harvick was in second place, challenging Tyler Reddick for the lead in the third stage. Trying to gain the position via strategy, Harvick shot down to the apron to pit. Reacting, Reddick slammed the brakes to try and make pit road too. He missed, but the sudden stop left Ryan Newman spinning on the race track.

Caution was thrown just before Harvick crossed the commitment line, leading to a penalty that put Harvick back in the field. He finished 19^th and is now two points below the cutline.

“It all happened because (Reddick) tried to do something he shouldn’t have,” Childers said. “That’s probably the more disappointing thing.

“Coulda, shoulda.”

Second gear: Denny Hamlin "shoulda" won Sunday's race

Harvick “coulda,” Denny Hamlin “shoulda."

Hamlin had the dominant car on Sunday, sweeping the first two stages and leading 177 laps before a loose wheel forced an extra pit stop in the third stage. After taking damage in a crash, he settled for 25^th.

“I don’t know where the points are, don’t really care, just, I hate losing a race that we definitely should’ve won,” Hamlin said.

Scoring 20 playoff points was massive for Hamlin, who is still in good shape in the standings in a tie for fourth place, 26 points above the cutline. And for Hamlin, the mentality remains the same.

“We think we’re going to win every week,” Hamlin said. “There’s not one week we show up and I don’t think I’m going to win. But you’ve got to play the game and sometimes, you play the game and it doesn’t work out the way you planned.”

Third gear: NASCAR playoff standings after Darlington

Harvick “coulda.” Hamlin “shoulda."

Larson did.

And now he’s advanced to the Round of 12.

NASCAR PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS: Look for a long drought to end or a longshot to win

The rest of the 15 playoff drivers have work to do, however. Currently, Christopher Bell, who had all sorts of issues on Sunday, finishing 23^rd, is in the 12^th and final spot. But it’s anything but comfortable.

Bubba Wallace is just one point back, Harvick is two back, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is four back and ninth-through-15th are separated by less than 20 points.

NASCAR Round of 16 standings through 1 of 3 races:

Fourth gear: Kansas trends

Hamlin will be confident for a reason heading into Kansas. He won the spring race and it was just the latest in a dominant run for Toyota, which has won the last three events and six of the last eight there. Harvick has the best career average there at 9.9.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NASCAR Dumb & Dumber edition; Denny Hamlin loses, Kyle Larson wins