.Bob Pockrass.FOX NASCAR Insider.The biggest issue of those defending a playoff location in the NASCAR Mug Series is actually that a chauffeur that isn't from another location in the mix safes in to the playoffs with an upset victory.Hello, Austin DillonDillon, who was actually 32nd in the status going into Richmond, put himself 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 continue to be to put the playoff range: Michigan, Daytona as well as Darlington.The NASCAR playoffs consist of 16 drivers-- the regular-season champion and after that the following 15 chauffeurs ranked through victories with dead heats violated by points.With the best 7 drivers in the standings all contending the very least one success, the regular-season champion more than likely is going to be one of the winners. Thirteen drivers have actually gained this year, suggesting approximately 3 areas may be offered on factors. Therefore that remains in, that's on the blister and that goes to win-at-all-costs? Those thirteen vehicle drivers with victories who remain in: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Alarm, Ryan Blaney, Pursuit Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric and also Austin Dillon.The blister modified significantly along with Dillon's triumph as now maximum just three locations-- not four as prior to the Richmond race-- may be offered to winless drivers. Both Chris Buescher as well as Ross Chastain dropped below the cutline while Bubba Wallace relocated to the silver lining of being among the three winless vehicle drivers with the best points.Joey Logano goes over Austin Dillon's overtime move to win the 400 Thus let's specify: There are 5 winless chauffeurs that would be actually combating for the existing 3 spots on call exclusively on points.Martin Truex Jr. has a 78-point edge on the cutline (presently Buescher as well as Chastain), with 60 points on Ty Gibbs, that is actually 15 aspects over Wallace. Buescher as well as Chastain, incorporated the status, are actually 3 factors responsible for Wallace.In various other phrases, it's visiting be a battle to the finish.Buescher won at Michigan as well as Daytona last year, yet those additionally are areas where Wallace commonly has managed well. Gibbs still seeks his very first profession Cup gain. Chastain is the motorist with the absolute most recent experience in playoff stress conditions, where he mostly has confirmed he may make points happen.There are 16 various other playoff-eligible vehicle drivers who basically skin must-win conditions: 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 covers NASCAR for FOX Sporting Activities. He has invested decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, along with stints at ESPN, Sporting Headlines, NASCAR Scene publication and The (Daytona Coastline) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass. Receive even more coming from NASCAR Cup Series Observe your faves to obtain info about games, news as well as additional.