.Bob Pockrass.FOX NASCAR Insider.The most significant concern of those defending a playoff area in the NASCAR Cup Series is actually that a motorist who isn't remotely in the mix vaults in to the playoffs along with a dismayed victory.Hello, Austin DillonDillon, who was 32nd in the standings entering into Richmond, put himself in the playoffs with a victory-- albeit a questionable one-- on Sunday, the 23rd nationality of the 26-race frequent season.Following Richmond, 3 nationalities remain to put the playoff field: Michigan, Daytona as well as Darlington.The NASCAR playoffs consist of 16 drivers-- the regular-season champion and afterwards the upcoming 15 vehicle drivers placed by wins with ties broken by points.With the top seven chauffeurs in the status all having at minimum one victory, the regular-season champ more than likely is going to be just one of the victors. Thirteen motorists have actually won this year, meaning around three locations could be readily available on factors. So who remains in, who's on the blister as well as that goes to win-at-all-costs? Those thirteen vehicle drivers with victories that are in: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Alarm, Ryan Blaney, Hunt Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric as well as Austin Dillon.The blister altered significantly with Dillon's victory as today at most only three places-- not 4 as prior to the Richmond competition-- could be available to winless motorists. Each Chris Buescher and also Ross Chastain fell below the cutline while Bubba Wallace moved to the good side of being among the three winless vehicle drivers along with the most points.Joey Logano discusses Austin Dillon's overtime transfer to succeed the 400 Therefore let's get to the points: There are actually five winless motorists who would certainly be actually battling for the present three areas on call solely on points.Martin Truex Jr. possesses a 78-point side on the cutline (currently Buescher as well as Chastain), with 60 aspects on Ty Gibbs, who is 15 points above Wallace. Buescher as well as Chastain, incorporated the status, are actually 3 factors behind Wallace.In various other words, it's heading to be a fight to the finish.Buescher succeeded at Michigan and also Daytona last year, yet those additionally are actually areas where Wallace typically has actually operated properly. Gibbs still finds his first job Cup win. Chastain is actually the vehicle driver along with the best current expertise in playoff tension situations, where he typically has actually shown he may create traits happen.There are 16 various other playoff-eligible chauffeurs who more or less skin 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 also Zane Smith.Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR for FOX Sports. He has devoted many years covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with jobs at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene journal and also The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass. Obtain extra coming from NASCAR Mug Set Follow your faves to acquire details regarding video games, news as well as even more.