.Bob Pockrass.FOX NASCAR Expert.The biggest worry of those defending a playoff place in the NASCAR Cup Set is that a motorist who isn't from another location in the mix vaults right into the playoffs with a dismayed victory.Hello, Austin DillonDillon, who was actually 32nd in the status entering into Richmond, put themself in the playoffs with a victory-- albeit a questionable one-- on Sunday, the 23rd nationality of the 26-race regular season.Following Richmond, 3 ethnicities remain to establish the playoff farmland: Michigan, Daytona and Darlington.The NASCAR playoffs are composed of 16 drivers-- the regular-season champion and then the next 15 vehicle drivers rated through wins with dead heats violated through points.With the leading 7 chauffeurs in the status all having at minimum one success, the regular-season champion more than likely is going to be one of the victors. Thirteen vehicle drivers have actually won this year, meaning as much as 3 locations can be offered on points. So that's in, that performs the blister and also that is at win-at-all-costs? Those 13 motorists along with wins who are in: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Pursuit Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric and Austin Dillon.The blister altered substantially with Dillon's triumph as now maximum merely three spots-- certainly not four as before the Richmond competition-- may be on call to winless drivers. Both Chris Buescher as well as Ross Chastain fell under the cutline while Bubba Wallace transferred to the good side of being among the 3 winless motorists along with the best points.Joey Logano reviews Austin Dillon's overtime transfer to succeed the 400 Thus allow's specify: There are actually 5 winless vehicle drivers that will be actually combating for the current three locations on call entirely on points.Martin Truex Jr. possesses a 78-point edge on the cutline (presently Buescher and also Chastain), along with 60 factors on Ty Gibbs, who is 15 points over Wallace. Buescher and Chastain, incorporated the status, are actually 3 aspects behind Wallace.In other terms, it's heading to be actually a fight to the finish.Buescher succeeded at Michigan and Daytona last year, but those likewise are actually spots where Wallace generally has operated well. Gibbs still finds his very first occupation Cup succeed. Chastain is actually the driver along with one of the most recent knowledge in playoff stress scenarios, where he primarily has actually confirmed he can easily create traits happen.There are actually 16 other playoff-eligible vehicle drivers that essentially face must-win situations: Chase 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 deals with NASCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent years dealing with motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with assignments at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Setting journal as well as The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobpockrass. Receive a lot more from NASCAR Mug Collection Observe your favorites to obtain information concerning activities, updates and even more.