CONCORD, N.C. — Of the 12 drivers remaining in NASCAR’s playoffs, the odds makers have ranked Austin Dillon last

Very few expected him to make it out of the first round.

This is Dillon’s debut in the Chase and he went into last weekend’s elimination race at Dover in danger of being bounced from the field.

But he stepped up with a strong eight place finish, his first top 10 finish in six weeks.