.Bob Pockrass.FOX NASCAR Expert.The largest problem of those defending a playoff place in the NASCAR Mug Series is that a vehicle driver who isn't from another location in the mix safes into the playoffs along with an upset victory.Hello, Austin DillonDillon, that was actually 32nd in the status entering Richmond, put himself in the playoffs with a success-- albeit a controversial one-- on Sunday, the 23rd nationality of the 26-race frequent season.Following Richmond, 3 ethnicities remain to put the playoff range: Michigan, Daytona and Darlington.The NASCAR playoffs include 16 motorists-- the regular-season champ and then the following 15 motorists placed by wins with ties broken through points.With the leading 7 vehicle drivers in the status all contending the very least one victory, the regular-season champ probably will be one of the winners. Thirteen chauffeurs have actually gained this year, suggesting as much as 3 locations could be offered on factors. So who remains in, that performs the blister and also that goes to win-at-all-costs? Those thirteen vehicle drivers with wins that are in: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Alarm, Ryan Blaney, Pursuit Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric and also Austin Dillon.The bubble modified considerably with Dillon's victory as today maximum only 3 locations-- certainly not four as prior to the Richmond competition-- might be on call to winless chauffeurs. Each Chris Buescher and Ross Chastain dropped beneath the cutline while Bubba Wallace relocated to the silver lining of being one of the three winless chauffeurs along with the most points.Joey Logano talks about Austin Dillon's overtime transfer to gain the Cook Out 400 So that permit's specify: There are 5 winless vehicle drivers that would be actually fighting for the existing 3 locations readily available solely on points.Martin Truex Jr. possesses a 78-point edge on the cutline (presently Buescher and Chastain), with 60 factors on Ty Gibbs, that is 15 points over Wallace. Buescher and Chastain, tied in the standings, are actually 3 points behind Wallace.In other terms, it is actually going to be a match to the finish.Buescher succeeded at Michigan and Daytona in 2014, however those additionally are actually areas where Wallace commonly has operated properly. Gibbs still finds his very first career Cup succeed. Chastain is actually the motorist with the most recent expertise in playoff pressure conditions, where he mostly has actually proven he can easily make traits happen.There are 16 various other playoff-eligible chauffeurs who essentially skin must-win circumstances: Hunt Briscoe, Kyle Busch, Todd Gilliland, Josh Berry, Michael McDowell, Carson Hocevar, Noah Gragson, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Erik Jones, Ryan Preece, Daniel Hemric, Justin Haley, Corey LaJoie, John Seeker Nemechek, Harrison Burton and Zane Smith.Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR for FOX Sporting Activities. He has actually devoted decades dealing with motorsports, featuring over 30 Daytona 500s, along with assignments at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Setting magazine as well as The (Daytona Seashore) News-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobpockrass. Obtain extra coming from NASCAR Cup Set Follow your preferences to get relevant information concerning activities, news and also more.