.Bob Pockrass.FOX NASCAR Insider.The biggest problem of those fighting for a playoff area in the NASCAR Mug Series is actually that a chauffeur who isn't from another location in the mix vaults in to the playoffs with a distressed victory.Hello, Austin DillonDillon, who was 32nd in the status going into Richmond, placed himself in the playoffs with a victory-- albeit a controversial one-- on Sunday, the 23rd ethnicity of the 26-race routine season.Following Richmond, 3 ethnicities remain to place the playoff range: Michigan, Daytona as well as Darlington.The NASCAR playoffs feature 16 chauffeurs-- the regular-season champion and after that the following 15 vehicle drivers positioned by success with ties breached by points.With the best 7 motorists in the status all contending least one success, the regular-season champ more than likely is going to be among the champions. Thirteen chauffeurs have gained this year, suggesting as much as three areas might be accessible on points. So that remains in, that's on the blister and also that goes to win-at-all-costs? Those thirteen drivers along with victories that reside in: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric as well as Austin Dillon.The blister altered substantially with Dillon's victory as today maximum simply three locations-- certainly not 4 as before the Richmond race-- could be readily available to winless drivers. Each Chris Buescher and also Ross Chastain dropped under the cutline while Bubba Wallace relocated to the silver lining of being among the 3 winless chauffeurs with one of the most points.Joey Logano covers Austin Dillon's overtime relocate to succeed the 400 Thus allow's get to the points: There are 5 winless vehicle drivers who would certainly be actually fighting for the current 3 places on call solely on points.Martin Truex Jr. possesses a 78-point edge on the cutline (presently Buescher and Chastain), along with 60 points on Ty Gibbs, who is actually 15 aspects above Wallace. Buescher and Chastain, tied in the status, are three points responsible for Wallace.In various other terms, it is actually heading to be actually a match to the finish.Buescher gained at Michigan and Daytona last year, but those also are actually places where Wallace customarily has actually operated well. Gibbs still seeks his 1st job Cup succeed. Chastain is actually the chauffeur along with the most current knowledge in playoff stress circumstances, where he typically has proven he can create points happen.There are actually 16 various other playoff-eligible chauffeurs who more or less skin must-win scenarios: Hunt 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 Sports. He has actually spent decades dealing with motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Updates, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Seaside) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass. Acquire much more from NASCAR Mug Set Observe your preferences to get information regarding activities, headlines and additional.