.Bob Pockrass.FOX NASCAR Insider.The most significant issue of those defending a playoff area in the NASCAR Cup Series is actually that a motorist who isn't from another location in the mix safes into the playoffs along with a distressed victory.Hello, Austin DillonDillon, who was 32nd in the standings getting in Richmond, put himself in the playoffs with a victory-- albeit a debatable one-- on Sunday, the 23rd race of the 26-race normal season.Following Richmond, 3 nationalities continue to be to establish the playoff farmland: Michigan, Daytona and Darlington.The NASCAR playoffs contain 16 vehicle drivers-- the regular-season champ and then the following 15 chauffeurs ranked through victories with ties breached through points.With the leading 7 motorists in the standings all contending least one victory, the regular-season champion most likely will be just one of the winners. Thirteen chauffeurs have won this year, implying around three spots can be offered on points. So that resides in, that gets on the bubble and who goes to win-at-all-costs? Those thirteen vehicle drivers along with wins that remain 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 also Austin Dillon.The blister transformed drastically with Dillon's triumph as today maximum only three areas-- not 4 as just before the Richmond race-- might be available to winless chauffeurs. Each Chris Buescher and also Ross Chastain dropped beneath the cutline while Bubba Wallace relocated to the silver lining of being among the three winless motorists along with the absolute most points.Joey Logano covers Austin Dillon's overtime move to gain the 400 So permit's get to the points: There are 5 winless motorists who would certainly be actually battling for the present 3 spots available exclusively on points.Martin Truex Jr. has a 78-point side on the cutline (presently Buescher and also Chastain), along with 60 factors on Ty Gibbs, that is 15 aspects above Wallace. Buescher as well as Chastain, incorporated the status, are actually 3 aspects responsible for Wallace.In various other terms, it's visiting be a battle to the finish.Buescher succeeded at Michigan as well as Daytona last year, but those additionally are actually places where Wallace customarily has run properly. Gibbs still seeks his very first occupation Cup gain. Chastain is the driver with one of the most latest expertise in playoff tension circumstances, where he usually has proven he can create traits happen.There are actually 16 various other playoff-eligible vehicle drivers who essentially face must-win situations: 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 also Zane Smith.Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR for FOX Sports. He has invested many years covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, along with jobs at ESPN, Sporting Headlines, NASCAR Scene journal and also The (Daytona Seashore) News-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobpockrass. Obtain a lot more from NASCAR Cup Series Follow your faves to receive relevant information about video games, news and even more.