.Bob Pockrass.FOX NASCAR Expert.The greatest problem of those defending a playoff area in the NASCAR Cup Series is actually that a motorist that isn't remotely in the mix safes right into the playoffs along with a dismayed victory.Hello, Austin DillonDillon, who was 32nd in the standings entering into Richmond, put themself in the playoffs with a success-- albeit a disputable one-- on Sunday, the 23rd ethnicity of the 26-race routine season.Following Richmond, 3 ethnicities continue to be to place the playoff farmland: Michigan, Daytona and also Darlington.The NASCAR playoffs feature 16 vehicle drivers-- the regular-season champion and then the upcoming 15 drivers placed by triumphes with dead heats breached by points.With the top seven chauffeurs in the standings all contending minimum one success, the regular-season champion more than likely will be one of the victors. Thirteen vehicle drivers have actually succeeded this year, implying as much as 3 places could be on call on aspects. So who remains in, who's on the bubble and who is at win-at-all-costs? Those 13 chauffeurs along with wins that reside in: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Alarm, Ryan Blaney, Hunt Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric as well as Austin Dillon.The blister changed drastically with Dillon's triumph as today maximum just three places-- not four as just before the Richmond race-- may be offered to winless vehicle drivers. Each Chris Buescher as well as Ross Chastain fell beneath the cutline while Bubba Wallace relocated to the silver lining of being one of the 3 winless chauffeurs with the most points.Joey Logano talks about Austin Dillon's overtime transfer to win the Cook Out 400 Thus permit's get to the points: There are actually five winless motorists who would certainly be combating for the existing three places accessible entirely on points.Martin Truex Jr. possesses a 78-point edge on the cutline (presently Buescher and also Chastain), along with 60 points on Ty Gibbs, who is actually 15 aspects over Wallace. Buescher and also Chastain, tied in the standings, are three factors responsible for Wallace.In other terms, it's visiting be a match to the finish.Buescher gained at Michigan and also Daytona in 2015, yet those additionally are actually spots where Wallace traditionally has managed effectively. Gibbs still finds his very first profession Cup succeed. Chastain is actually the chauffeur along with the most current expertise in playoff pressure circumstances, where he typically has actually confirmed he may make factors happen.There are actually 16 other playoff-eligible drivers who essentially skin must-win circumstances: Pursuit 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 also Zane Smith.Bob Pockrass deals with NASCAR for FOX Sporting Activities. He has spent years covering motorsports, featuring over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Updates, NASCAR Setting journal as well as The (Daytona Seashore) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass. Receive much more coming from NASCAR Mug Set Observe your preferences to acquire info regarding activities, news and also more.