.Bob Pockrass.FOX NASCAR Expert.The most significant concern of those defending a playoff location in the NASCAR Mug Series is actually that a motorist that isn't remotely in the mix vaults right into the playoffs with a dismayed victory.Hello, Austin DillonDillon, who was actually 32nd in the status getting into Richmond, put themself in the playoffs with a victory-- albeit a debatable one-- on Sunday, the 23rd ethnicity of the 26-race routine season.Following Richmond, 3 races remain to place the playoff farmland: Michigan, Daytona as well as Darlington.The NASCAR playoffs consist of 16 chauffeurs-- the regular-season champ and after that the upcoming 15 chauffeurs placed through success along with dead heats broken by points.With the top seven vehicle drivers in the status all having at least one victory, the regular-season champion probably is going to be just one of the victors. Thirteen drivers have actually won this year, indicating around three places may be offered on factors. Thus who resides in, who performs the bubble and who goes to win-at-all-costs? Those 13 motorists along with triumphes that remain 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 changed considerably with Dillon's success as right now just just three places-- not four as prior to the Richmond race-- may be offered to winless vehicle drivers. Both Chris Buescher and also Ross Chastain dropped under the cutline while Bubba Wallace relocated to the silver lining of being just one of the 3 winless chauffeurs along with the best points.Joey Logano covers Austin Dillon's overtime relocate to succeed the 400 Thus permit's specify: There are actually 5 winless motorists that would be fighting for the existing three places readily available only on points.Martin Truex Jr. has a 78-point side on the cutline (currently Buescher and also Chastain), with 60 aspects on Ty Gibbs, who is 15 aspects above Wallace. Buescher as well as Chastain, tied in the status, are three points responsible for Wallace.In various other phrases, it's going to be a match to the finish.Buescher won at Michigan and Daytona in 2015, however those likewise are areas where Wallace traditionally has actually run well. Gibbs still seeks his 1st profession Mug win. Chastain is the vehicle driver along with one of the most recent experience in playoff pressure circumstances, where he mainly has actually proven he may make traits happen.There are actually 16 other playoff-eligible motorists that essentially face must-win circumstances: 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 deals with NASCAR for FOX Sporting Activities. He has actually devoted years dealing with motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with jobs at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Setting magazine and also The (Daytona Seashore) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass. Receive extra coming from NASCAR Mug Collection Observe your faves to acquire details concerning video games, information and also even more.