.Bob Pockrass.FOX NASCAR Insider.The most significant problem of those defending a playoff spot in the NASCAR Mug Collection is actually that a chauffeur who isn't remotely in the mix vaults in to the playoffs along with an upset victory.Hello, Austin DillonDillon, that was actually 32nd in the status getting in Richmond, placed himself in the playoffs along with a victory-- albeit a controversial one-- on Sunday, the 23rd race of the 26-race routine season.Following Richmond, three nationalities stay to put the playoff field: Michigan, Daytona and Darlington.The NASCAR playoffs consist of 16 motorists-- the regular-season champion and afterwards the upcoming 15 chauffeurs rated through triumphes with ties broken by points.With the best seven vehicle drivers in the status all having at the very least one triumph, the regular-season champion probably will be among the winners. Thirteen motorists have gained this year, implying as much as three places can be on call on aspects. Thus who's in, that's on the blister and that goes to win-at-all-costs? Those 13 vehicle drivers along 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 also Austin Dillon.The bubble transformed considerably along with Dillon's success as right now at most only 3 areas-- not 4 as prior to the Richmond race-- could be accessible to winless drivers. Each Chris Buescher as well as Ross Chastain fell below the cutline while Bubba Wallace transferred to the silver lining of being among the 3 winless drivers along with the absolute most points.Joey Logano explains Austin Dillon's overtime transfer to win the Cook Out 400 So that allow's get to the points: There are actually five winless motorists who would be battling for the existing 3 locations readily available only on points.Martin Truex Jr. possesses a 78-point edge on the cutline (presently Buescher as well as Chastain), with 60 points on Ty Gibbs, that is 15 points over Wallace. Buescher and also Chastain, tied in the status, are three aspects behind Wallace.In other terms, it is actually going to be a match to the finish.Buescher gained at Michigan and Daytona last year, yet those likewise are actually locations where Wallace commonly has managed well. Gibbs still finds his first job Mug succeed. Chastain is the driver with the best recent experience in playoff pressure situations, where he usually has actually proven he can easily make traits happen.There are 16 other playoff-eligible vehicle drivers who pretty much skin must-win conditions: 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 Seeker Nemechek, Harrison Burton and Zane Smith.Bob Pockrass deals with NASCAR for FOX Sporting Activities. He has devoted years covering motorsports, featuring over 30 Daytona 500s, along with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene publication and also The (Daytona Coastline) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass. Get extra coming from NASCAR Mug Collection Follow your faves to get information about video games, updates as well as more.