.Bob Pockrass.FOX NASCAR Insider.The greatest concern of those defending a playoff area in the NASCAR Cup Collection is that a vehicle driver who isn't from another location in the mix vaults right into the playoffs with an upset victory.Hello, Austin DillonDillon, who was 32nd in the status entering into Richmond, placed himself in the playoffs along with a triumph-- albeit a controversial one-- on Sunday, the 23rd ethnicity of the 26-race routine season.Following Richmond, 3 ethnicities stay to set the playoff range: Michigan, Daytona and also Darlington.The NASCAR playoffs feature 16 vehicle drivers-- the regular-season champion and after that the next 15 vehicle drivers placed through victories along with dead heats violated through points.With the leading seven motorists in the status all having at the very least one victory, the regular-season champ more than likely is going to be one of the winners. Thirteen motorists have actually succeeded this year, meaning around three places could be readily available on factors. So who remains in, that's on the bubble and also who goes to win-at-all-costs? Those thirteen chauffeurs with wins that reside in: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Alarm, Ryan Blaney, Pursuit Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric and Austin Dillon.The bubble modified substantially along with Dillon's triumph as today at most only three spots-- not 4 as prior to the Richmond competition-- can be accessible to winless vehicle drivers. Each Chris Buescher and also Ross Chastain fell below the cutline while Bubba Wallace transferred to the silver lining of being one of the 3 winless drivers along with the most points.Joey Logano reviews Austin Dillon's overtime relocate to succeed the 400 Therefore let's specify: There are five winless drivers who would certainly be battling for the existing three places offered entirely on points.Martin Truex Jr. has a 78-point edge on the cutline (currently Buescher as well as Chastain), along with 60 factors on Ty Gibbs, who is actually 15 points above Wallace. Buescher as well as Chastain, incorporated the standings, are actually 3 aspects behind Wallace.In other words, it's visiting be a match to the finish.Buescher won at Michigan as well as Daytona in 2015, but those likewise are actually locations where Wallace traditionally has run properly. Gibbs still seeks his initial career Cup succeed. Chastain is the vehicle driver with the most recent knowledge in playoff tension circumstances, where he mostly has confirmed he can easily create traits happen.There are actually 16 other playoff-eligible motorists who virtually skin must-win situations: 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 as well as Zane Smith.Bob Pockrass deals with NASCAR for FOX Sporting Activities. He has actually invested years covering motorsports, featuring over 30 Daytona 500s, with assignments at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Setting magazine and The (Daytona Seashore) News-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobpockrass. Obtain a lot more coming from NASCAR Mug Series Observe your faves to receive information about games, information and more.