.Bob Pockrass.FOX NASCAR Expert.The biggest problem of those defending a playoff area in the NASCAR Mug Set is actually that a chauffeur that isn't from another location in the mix vaults right into the playoffs with a dismayed victory.Hello, Austin DillonDillon, that was actually 32nd in the standings entering Richmond, put himself in the playoffs with a success-- albeit a questionable one-- on Sunday, the 23rd race of the 26-race regular season.Following Richmond, three ethnicities stay to establish the playoff field: Michigan, Daytona and Darlington.The NASCAR playoffs are composed of 16 chauffeurs-- the regular-season champ and then the next 15 chauffeurs ranked through success along with ties breached through points.With the best seven motorists in the standings all having at minimum one success, the regular-season champ likely is going to be one of the champions. Thirteen chauffeurs have succeeded this year, meaning up to 3 locations might be available on points. Thus who remains in, who performs the blister and also who is at win-at-all-costs? Those 13 motorists with triumphes that are in: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Alarm, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric and Austin Dillon.The bubble changed dramatically with Dillon's victory as right now just only three areas-- not 4 as just before the Richmond race-- could be accessible to winless drivers. Both Chris Buescher as well as Ross Chastain fell beneath the cutline while Bubba Wallace transferred to the silver lining of being among the three winless vehicle drivers along with the absolute most points.Joey Logano discusses Austin Dillon's overtime relocate to succeed the Cook Out 400 So allow's specify: There are actually five winless drivers that would certainly be actually combating for the present three places offered only on points.Martin Truex Jr. has a 78-point side on the cutline (currently Buescher as well as Chastain), along with 60 aspects on Ty Gibbs, that is 15 factors above Wallace. Buescher and also Chastain, tied in the standings, are actually 3 factors responsible for Wallace.In other terms, it's mosting likely to be a fight to the finish.Buescher won at Michigan as well as Daytona last year, however those likewise are actually spots where Wallace traditionally has actually operated properly. Gibbs still seeks his initial occupation Cup gain. Chastain is actually the chauffeur along with the best current experience in playoff tension situations, where he usually has actually confirmed he can easily create points happen.There are actually 16 other playoff-eligible motorists who virtually skin must-win scenarios: 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 as well as Zane Smith.Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR for FOX Sporting Activities. He has actually invested decades covering motorsports, featuring over 30 Daytona 500s, along with jobs at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Setting journal as well as The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass. Receive a lot more coming from NASCAR Mug Collection Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and also additional.