.Bob Pockrass.FOX NASCAR Expert.The largest worry of those fighting for a playoff location in the NASCAR Cup Series is actually that a vehicle driver who isn't from another location in the mix safes into the playoffs with an upset victory.Hello, Austin DillonDillon, who was 32nd in the status entering into Richmond, placed himself in the playoffs with a success-- albeit a disputable one-- on Sunday, the 23rd race of the 26-race regular season.Following Richmond, 3 races stay to place the playoff range: Michigan, Daytona as well as Darlington.The NASCAR playoffs contain 16 drivers-- the regular-season champion and then the next 15 chauffeurs placed through triumphes with dead heats broken by points.With the leading seven chauffeurs in the status all contending least one triumph, the regular-season champion more than likely will be one of the winners. Thirteen chauffeurs have actually gained this year, implying around 3 locations could be accessible on points. Thus that resides in, that performs the bubble and also who goes to win-at-all-costs? Those 13 drivers along with victories 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 as well as Austin Dillon.The bubble modified considerably along with Dillon's triumph as today just simply three spots-- certainly not 4 as before the Richmond competition-- could be offered to winless drivers. Both Chris Buescher and also Ross Chastain fell below the cutline while Bubba Wallace moved to the good side of being one of the three winless chauffeurs along with the absolute most points.Joey Logano talks about Austin Dillon's overtime relocate to succeed the 400 Thus permit's get to the points: There are actually five winless vehicle drivers that will be actually battling for the existing three areas accessible only on points.Martin Truex Jr. possesses a 78-point edge on the cutline (presently Buescher and Chastain), along with 60 aspects on Ty Gibbs, that is 15 aspects above Wallace. Buescher and Chastain, tied in the status, are actually 3 aspects behind Wallace.In various other terms, it's going to be a fight to the finish.Buescher succeeded at Michigan and Daytona in 2013, yet those also are actually locations where Wallace commonly has actually run effectively. Gibbs still seeks his first profession Cup succeed. Chastain is actually the motorist along with the most latest adventure in playoff stress conditions, where he primarily has actually proven he can make points happen.There are 16 other playoff-eligible chauffeurs that basically skin must-win scenarios: 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 and Zane Smith.Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR for FOX Sports. He has invested decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with jobs at ESPN, Sporting Updates, NASCAR Setting magazine as well as The (Daytona Beach Front) News-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobpockrass. Receive much more coming from NASCAR Mug Set Follow your favorites to obtain information concerning activities, updates and also even more.