.Bob Pockrass.FOX NASCAR Insider.The biggest concern of those defending a playoff area in the NASCAR Mug Series is actually that a driver who isn't remotely in the mix vaults right into the playoffs along with an upset victory.Hello, Austin DillonDillon, who was 32nd in the status getting in Richmond, placed themself in the playoffs with a victory-- albeit a questionable one-- on Sunday, the 23rd ethnicity of the 26-race regular season.Following Richmond, 3 nationalities stay to set the playoff farmland: Michigan, Daytona as well as Darlington.The NASCAR playoffs feature 16 motorists-- the regular-season champion and afterwards the following 15 drivers rated through triumphes along with dead heats violated by points.With the leading 7 vehicle drivers in the status all contending the very least one victory, the regular-season champ more than likely is going to be just one of the victors. Thirteen chauffeurs have won this year, indicating up to three places can be readily available on points. Therefore who resides in, who performs the blister and also that goes to win-at-all-costs? Those 13 drivers with success who reside 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 blister transformed drastically along with Dillon's triumph as today maximum merely three places-- not four as just before the Richmond competition-- might be on call to winless vehicle drivers. Both Chris Buescher as well as Ross Chastain fell beneath the cutline while Bubba Wallace moved to the silver lining of being among the 3 winless chauffeurs with the most points.Joey Logano goes over Austin Dillon's overtime transfer to gain the Cook Out 400 So that let's get to the points: There are actually 5 winless motorists who will be battling for the current 3 spots on call solely on points.Martin Truex Jr. has a 78-point side on the cutline (currently Buescher and Chastain), with 60 points on Ty Gibbs, that is actually 15 factors above Wallace. Buescher and Chastain, tied in the standings, are three aspects responsible for Wallace.In various other terms, it's mosting likely to be actually a fight to the finish.Buescher succeeded at Michigan and also Daytona in 2014, however those additionally are spots where Wallace customarily has managed well. Gibbs still finds his very first occupation Cup win. Chastain is actually the driver with the absolute most latest knowledge in playoff tension conditions, where he mainly has actually confirmed he can create traits happen.There are 16 various other playoff-eligible chauffeurs that practically skin 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 Hunter Nemechek, Harrison Burton and Zane Smith.Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR for FOX Sports. He has invested many years covering motorsports, featuring over 30 Daytona 500s, along with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Setting journal and also The (Daytona Beach Front) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass. Receive extra from NASCAR Mug Set Observe your favorites to receive info about games, news and more.