.Bob Pockrass.FOX NASCAR Expert.The largest issue of those defending a playoff place in the NASCAR Cup Series is that a driver who isn't remotely in the mix vaults right into the playoffs with a dismayed victory.Hello, Austin DillonDillon, that was 32nd in the status entering Richmond, placed themself in the playoffs along with a success-- albeit a disputable one-- on Sunday, the 23rd race of the 26-race frequent season.Following Richmond, 3 nationalities stay to set the playoff ground: Michigan, Daytona and Darlington.The NASCAR playoffs include 16 chauffeurs-- the regular-season champ and after that the following 15 drivers placed by triumphes along with ties breached through points.With the best 7 drivers in the status all having at the very least one success, the regular-season champion more than likely is going to be just one of the winners. Thirteen drivers have gained this year, meaning up to three locations may be on call on aspects. So that's in, that's on the bubble as well as who goes to win-at-all-costs? Those 13 chauffeurs along with victories that are in: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Alarm, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric and Austin Dillon.The bubble altered considerably along with Dillon's triumph as now at most merely 3 locations-- not four as prior to the Richmond competition-- may be accessible to winless chauffeurs. Each Chris Buescher as well as Ross Chastain dropped below the cutline while Bubba Wallace moved to the silver lining of being just one of the three winless vehicle drivers with one of the most points.Joey Logano reviews Austin Dillon's overtime transfer to gain the Cook Out 400 So that let's specify: There are five winless chauffeurs that will be actually battling for the present three places readily available solely on points.Martin Truex Jr. has a 78-point edge on the cutline (currently Buescher and Chastain), with 60 aspects on Ty Gibbs, that is actually 15 aspects over Wallace. Buescher and Chastain, incorporated the status, are three factors responsible for Wallace.In various other terms, it is actually visiting be a battle to the finish.Buescher won at Michigan and also Daytona in 2013, however those also are actually areas where Wallace customarily has actually operated effectively. Gibbs still finds his initial job Mug win. Chastain is the vehicle driver with the absolute most current knowledge in playoff pressure conditions, where he mostly has actually shown he can make factors happen.There are 16 other playoff-eligible drivers that more or less face must-win conditions: 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 Hunter Nemechek, Harrison Burton as well as Zane Smith.Bob Pockrass deals with NASCAR for FOX Sports. He has devoted many years covering motorsports, consisting of over 30 Daytona 500s, with jobs at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and also The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobpockrass. Obtain much more coming from NASCAR Cup Set Follow your preferences to acquire information concerning games, headlines as well as additional.