.Bob Pockrass.FOX NASCAR Insider.The most significant problem of those defending a playoff location in the NASCAR Cup Series is that a vehicle driver that isn't remotely in the mix vaults in to the playoffs with a distressed victory.Hello, Austin DillonDillon, who was 32nd in the standings entering into Richmond, placed himself in the playoffs along with a victory-- albeit a debatable one-- on Sunday, the 23rd ethnicity of the 26-race regular season.Following Richmond, 3 nationalities continue to be to establish the playoff ground: Michigan, Daytona as well as Darlington.The NASCAR playoffs contain 16 vehicle drivers-- the regular-season champion and then the next 15 drivers positioned through triumphes along with ties violated through points.With the top 7 vehicle drivers in the status all contending minimum one triumph, the regular-season champion more than likely is going to be just one of the victors. Thirteen drivers have gained this year, implying up to 3 areas might be readily available on factors. Therefore who's in, who performs the bubble as well as that goes to win-at-all-costs? Those thirteen chauffeurs with triumphes that remain 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 blister modified considerably along with Dillon's triumph as now just merely three spots-- not 4 as before the Richmond competition-- could be readily available to winless vehicle drivers. Each Chris Buescher and Ross Chastain fell under the cutline while Bubba Wallace moved to the good side of being just one of the 3 winless vehicle drivers with the absolute most points.Joey Logano discusses Austin Dillon's overtime move to gain the Cook Out 400 Therefore permit's get to the points: There are 5 winless chauffeurs that will be combating for the current three locations available only on points.Martin Truex Jr. has a 78-point edge on the cutline (currently Buescher and also Chastain), along with 60 factors on Ty Gibbs, that is 15 factors above Wallace. Buescher as well as Chastain, tied in the status, are 3 points responsible for Wallace.In other words, it is actually mosting likely to be a battle to the finish.Buescher succeeded at Michigan and Daytona in 2015, but those additionally are actually spots where Wallace traditionally has actually run properly. Gibbs still finds his first occupation Cup gain. Chastain is the motorist with one of the most latest adventure in playoff pressure situations, where he mostly has shown he can make factors happen.There are actually 16 other playoff-eligible motorists who pretty much face must-win situations: 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 covers NASCAR for FOX Sporting Activities. He has invested years covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene magazine and also The (Daytona Seashore) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass. Acquire extra coming from NASCAR Mug Collection Observe your faves to obtain relevant information about games, headlines as well as more.