.Bob Pockrass.FOX NASCAR Insider.The greatest problem of those defending a playoff location in the NASCAR Cup Set is that a driver who isn't remotely in the mix vaults right into the playoffs along with an upset victory.Hello, Austin DillonDillon, that was 32nd in the standings getting in Richmond, put himself in the playoffs along with a success-- albeit a controversial one-- on Sunday, the 23rd nationality of the 26-race frequent season.Following Richmond, 3 races continue to be to place the playoff range: Michigan, Daytona as well as Darlington.The NASCAR playoffs are composed of 16 drivers-- the regular-season champion and afterwards the next 15 drivers positioned through wins along with dead heats broken by points.With the best 7 vehicle drivers in the status all having at minimum one triumph, the regular-season champ probably is going to be one of the victors. Thirteen motorists have actually succeeded this year, meaning as much as three locations could be readily available on points. So who's in, who performs the blister as well as that goes to win-at-all-costs? Those 13 drivers with success that reside 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 also Austin Dillon.The bubble altered substantially with Dillon's triumph as right now at most just 3 areas-- not four as before the Richmond competition-- can be readily available to winless chauffeurs. Each Chris Buescher and Ross Chastain dropped under the cutline while Bubba Wallace relocated to the silver lining of being among the 3 winless vehicle drivers along with the best points.Joey Logano covers Austin Dillon's overtime relocate to win the Cook Out 400 Thus permit's get to the points: There are actually five winless vehicle drivers that would certainly be actually fighting for the current 3 spots available entirely on points.Martin Truex Jr. has a 78-point side on the cutline (currently Buescher and Chastain), along with 60 factors on Ty Gibbs, who is actually 15 factors above Wallace. Buescher and Chastain, incorporated the status, are actually three aspects behind Wallace.In various other words, it's going to be actually a fight to the finish.Buescher won at Michigan as well as Daytona in 2015, however those likewise are locations where Wallace commonly has operated well. Gibbs still seeks his 1st occupation Mug succeed. Chastain is the vehicle driver with the absolute most latest adventure in playoff stress conditions, where he primarily has proven he can easily create factors happen.There are 16 various other playoff-eligible vehicle drivers who essentially face must-win circumstances: 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 Hunter Nemechek, Harrison Burton and Zane Smith.Bob Pockrass deals with NASCAR for FOX Sports. He has actually devoted decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with jobs at ESPN, Sporting Updates, NASCAR Setting publication and also The (Daytona Beach Front) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass. Receive a lot more from NASCAR Mug Series Observe your faves to acquire info about games, news as well as even more.