.Bob Pockrass.FOX NASCAR Insider.The most significant problem of those defending a playoff location in the NASCAR Cup Series is actually that a chauffeur who isn't remotely in the mix vaults in to the playoffs along with an upset victory.Hello, Austin DillonDillon, who was 32nd in the status going into Richmond, placed themself in the playoffs along with a success-- albeit a disputable one-- on Sunday, the 23rd ethnicity of the 26-race regular season.Following Richmond, 3 races stay to establish the playoff farmland: Michigan, Daytona and Darlington.The NASCAR playoffs include 16 motorists-- the regular-season champ and after that the upcoming 15 motorists rated by success along with ties violated through points.With the top 7 chauffeurs in the status all contending least one victory, the regular-season champ probably is going to be just one of the champions. Thirteen vehicle drivers have actually gained this year, indicating approximately 3 locations might be on call on factors. So that remains in, who gets on the blister and that goes to win-at-all-costs? Those 13 motorists along with wins who reside in: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Hunt Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric and also Austin Dillon.The blister altered dramatically along with Dillon's success as right now maximum merely 3 spots-- certainly not 4 as prior to the Richmond race-- can be readily available to winless drivers. Both Chris Buescher and Ross Chastain fell beneath the cutline while Bubba Wallace moved to the good side of being one of the 3 winless drivers along with the absolute most points.Joey Logano talks about Austin Dillon's overtime move to gain the Cook Out 400 Therefore permit's get to the points: There are five winless drivers that will be fighting for the present 3 locations on call solely on points.Martin Truex Jr. has a 78-point edge on the cutline (currently Buescher and also Chastain), with 60 aspects on Ty Gibbs, that is actually 15 points over Wallace. Buescher and Chastain, incorporated the standings, are 3 aspects behind Wallace.In various other words, it is actually heading to be actually a fight to the finish.Buescher won at Michigan and also Daytona last year, yet those additionally are actually locations where Wallace typically has operated properly. Gibbs still seeks his very first job Cup succeed. Chastain is the driver along with the absolute most recent knowledge in playoff pressure scenarios, where he mainly has shown he may create points happen.There are actually 16 various other playoff-eligible chauffeurs that more or less skin must-win conditions: 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 also Zane Smith.Bob Pockrass deals with NASCAR for FOX Sports. He has actually devoted many years dealing with motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, along with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Setting publication and also The (Daytona Beach Front) News-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobpockrass. Get a lot more from NASCAR Cup Series Follow your favorites to obtain details concerning activities, updates as well as even more.