.Bob Pockrass.FOX NASCAR Insider.The greatest problem of those defending a playoff spot in the NASCAR Cup Series is that a chauffeur who isn't from another location in the mix safes into the playoffs along with an upset victory.Hello, Austin DillonDillon, that was actually 32nd in the standings entering Richmond, placed themself in the playoffs along with a victory-- albeit a controversial one-- on Sunday, the 23rd race of the 26-race routine season.Following Richmond, three ethnicities continue to be to place the playoff ground: Michigan, Daytona and also Darlington.The NASCAR playoffs contain 16 drivers-- the regular-season champion and then the next 15 motorists placed through success with dead heats breached through points.With the leading seven motorists in the standings all contending minimum one triumph, the regular-season champ more than likely will be one of the winners. Thirteen chauffeurs have gained this year, indicating as much as 3 spots could be on call on points. Thus who resides in, who gets on the blister and that is at win-at-all-costs? Those thirteen vehicle drivers along with success that remain in: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Pursuit Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric and also Austin Dillon.The blister transformed considerably along with Dillon's triumph as right now just just 3 places-- certainly not four as before the Richmond race-- can be on call to winless drivers. Both Chris Buescher and Ross Chastain fell under the cutline while Bubba Wallace moved to the good side of being among the 3 winless drivers along with one of the most points.Joey Logano goes over Austin Dillon's overtime transfer to succeed the 400 Thus permit's get to the points: There are five winless vehicle drivers who will be battling for the existing three places available solely on points.Martin Truex Jr. has a 78-point side on the cutline (currently Buescher as well as Chastain), with 60 aspects on Ty Gibbs, that is actually 15 factors over Wallace. Buescher and also Chastain, incorporated the standings, are 3 factors responsible for Wallace.In other phrases, it's going to be a fight to the finish.Buescher won at Michigan and also Daytona in 2013, but those likewise are places where Wallace customarily has actually run effectively. Gibbs still seeks his first occupation Mug gain. Chastain is actually the vehicle driver along with one of the most recent expertise in playoff pressure circumstances, where he mostly has verified he can easily create factors happen.There are actually 16 various other playoff-eligible vehicle drivers who more or less face 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 Zane Smith.Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR for FOX Sporting Activities. He has actually spent years dealing with motorsports, consisting of over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Headlines, NASCAR Setting journal and The (Daytona Seaside) News-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobpockrass. Acquire a lot more from NASCAR Mug Series Observe your faves to receive details about video games, news as well as even more.