By NATE RYAN

Austin Dillon and Kyle Larson have the same goal — reaching the second round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs — but divergent paths to get there at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Entering Saturday night’s 500-lap cutoff race at the treacherous short track in Tennessee, Dillon is on the verge of being one of four drivers eliminated from a field of 16. He is 11 points behind 12th-ranked Austin Cindric in the last provisional transfer spot, but the Richard Childress Racing driver believes he’s within “striking distance” to force the drivers ahead of him into mistakes that help erase the gap.

“If we apply pressure, then we can transfer to the next round, and pressure is running up front and scoring stage points,” Dillon said. “With just a solid day, we can make it happen. But if you

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