.Bob Pockrass.FOX NASCAR Expert.The most significant concern of those defending a playoff area in the NASCAR Cup Series is actually that a motorist that isn't remotely in the mix vaults right into the playoffs with a distressed victory.Hello, Austin DillonDillon, that was 32nd in the status getting in Richmond, put himself in the playoffs along with a success-- albeit a disputable one-- on Sunday, the 23rd nationality of the 26-race frequent season.Following Richmond, three ethnicities continue to be to establish the playoff range: Michigan, Daytona and Darlington.The NASCAR playoffs feature 16 motorists-- the regular-season champ and after that the next 15 vehicle drivers placed by success along with ties breached by points.With the best seven chauffeurs in the status all having at minimum one victory, the regular-season champion probably will be among the champions. Thirteen drivers have actually won this year, suggesting approximately 3 locations may be accessible on points. Therefore who remains in, who's on the bubble and also that is at win-at-all-costs? Those 13 chauffeurs with success who remain in: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric and Austin Dillon.The bubble modified drastically along with Dillon's triumph as today just merely 3 spots-- certainly not 4 as prior to the Richmond competition-- could be accessible to winless chauffeurs. Each Chris Buescher and also Ross Chastain dropped below the cutline while Bubba Wallace transferred to the good side of being among the three winless drivers along with the absolute most points.Joey Logano explains Austin Dillon's overtime transfer to win the 400 So let's get to the points: There are actually 5 winless chauffeurs who would certainly be battling for the current three places on call only on points.Martin Truex Jr. has a 78-point side on the cutline (presently Buescher and also Chastain), with 60 points on Ty Gibbs, who is actually 15 factors over Wallace. Buescher and Chastain, tied in the status, are actually 3 factors responsible for Wallace.In various other phrases, it's visiting be a fight to the finish.Buescher succeeded at Michigan as well as Daytona in 2015, but those also are actually places where Wallace typically has actually run well. Gibbs still seeks his very first job Mug gain. Chastain is the chauffeur with the absolute most latest adventure in playoff tension situations, where he usually has shown he can create factors happen.There are 16 various other playoff-eligible motorists who virtually skin must-win scenarios: 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 and also Zane Smith.Bob Pockrass deals with NASCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent years dealing with motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Updates, NASCAR Setting journal and The (Daytona Seaside) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass. Acquire a lot more from NASCAR Cup Set Observe your preferences to obtain relevant information regarding activities, headlines and also more.