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Caleb Sheets Dominates Charlotte to Take North Star Racing Victory

Zach Johnson Updated Oct 15, 2026

Sheets leads 127 laps to capture the win at Charlotte Motor Speedway, while Zach Thomas Johnson and Tommy Krawczyk remain locked in a tight championship battle.

North Star Racing headed to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Bank of America 300, and it was Caleb Sheets who stole the show. The No. 26 dominated the race, leading 127 of the 134 completed laps to secure the victory and deliver a massive result in the championship standings.

Sheets started from the pole and backed up his qualifying speed with a commanding performance. After finishing third in Stage 1, he bounced back to win Stage 2 before controlling the majority of the race’s remaining laps.

Zack Saunders finished second, Cory Mott took third, and Zach Thomas Johnson came home fourth. Tommy Krawczyk rounded out the top five.

The race featured two different leaders, two lead changes and seven cautions for 16 caution laps. Although the event did not reach its scheduled 200-lap distance, it still produced a major shake-up in the championship standings.

Sheets Controls Charlotte

From the drop of the green flag, Sheets showed he had the car to beat.

The No. 26 started on the pole and remained competitive throughout the opening stage, finishing third behind Johnson and Krawczyk. While he missed out on the first stage victory, Sheets stayed within striking distance and continued building speed as the race progressed.

Stage 2 was where Sheets truly took control. He led all 29 laps of the stage to collect the stage win and valuable championship points.

From there, Sheets continued to lead the field, eventually putting together a race-winning performance that saw him lead 127 laps overall.

Despite recording two incidents, Sheets maintained his pace and held off the competition to take the checkered flag.

The victory was especially important given the championship implications. With Johnson finishing fourth and Krawczyk fifth, Sheets took advantage of the opportunity to move to the top of the standings.

Stage 1: Johnson Strikes First

Zach Thomas Johnson opened the afternoon by winning Stage 1 after 30 laps of competition.

Starting third, Johnson worked his way to the front and held off Tommy Krawczyk, who finished second. Sheets came home third, followed by Cory Mott and Stewart Harding Walker.

Johnson’s stage victory provided an important early points haul and kept him in contention for the overall win. He continued to run near the front for the remainder of the race, ultimately finishing fourth.

Stage 1 Results:

  1. Zach Thomas Johnson
  2. Tommy Krawczyk
  3. Caleb Sheets
  4. Cory Mott
  5. Stewart Harding Walker

Stage 2: Sheets Takes Command

Sheets answered in Stage 2, putting together a dominant 29-lap run to capture the victory.

Cory Mott finished second, with Tommy Krawczyk third and Johnson fourth. Michael Deitch rounded out the top five.

Sheets led every lap of the stage and established himself as the driver to beat heading into the final portion of the race.

With the No. 26 carrying that momentum forward, the stage victory became a springboard for his eventual overall win.

Stage 2 Results:

  1. Caleb Sheets
  2. Cory Mott
  3. Tommy Krawczyk
  4. Zach Thomas Johnson
  5. Michael Deitch

Charlotte Race Results

  1. Caleb Sheets
  2. Zack Saunders
  3. Cory Mott
  4. Zach Thomas Johnson
  5. Tommy Krawczyk
  6. Michael Deitch
  7. Joe T Wright
  8. Haden Higginbotham
  9. Steven Carlile
  10. Sam Bennett5
  11. Joe Gibbons
  12. Jim Mott
  13. John Connor10
  14. Stewart Harding Walker
  15. Cameron Romano2
  16. Vince Mitchell

Saunders Delivers a Strong Runner-Up Finish

While Sheets dominated the race, Zack Saunders quietly put together an impressive performance of his own.

Saunders started fourth and worked his way into second, finishing just 0.677 seconds behind the winner. He completed all 134 laps and secured a valuable runner-up result.

It was a strong showing for the No. 60, which stayed competitive throughout the race and finished ahead of several championship contenders.

Cory Mott also deserves recognition after finishing third. Mott was competitive in both stages, finishing fourth in Stage 1 and second in Stage 2 before earning a place on the overall podium.

Johnson and Krawczyk Keep the Championship Fight Tight

Johnson and Tommy Krawczyk both finished inside the top five, but neither could match Sheets over the full distance.

Johnson’s Stage 1 victory helped him collect valuable points, and his fourth-place finish kept him near the top of the championship standings.

Krawczyk also put together a consistent performance. He finished second in Stage 1 and third in Stage 2 before taking fifth overall.

The result leaves both drivers close to Sheets in the standings, setting up an intriguing battle as the season continues.

A Difficult Afternoon for Several Drivers

Charlotte proved challenging for several competitors who were unable to complete the full distance.

Jim Mott disconnected after 117 laps, John Connor10 after 108 laps, Stewart Harding Walker after 95 laps, Cameron Romano2 after 70 laps and Vince Mitchell after 49 laps.

Mitchell’s afternoon was particularly frustrating after starting fifth, while Harding Walker had finished fifth in Stage 1 before his race came to an early end.

With seven cautions throughout the event, the race demanded consistency and patience. For those who failed to reach the finish, the lost track time meant missing out on valuable points.

Championship Watch: Sheets Takes Over the Lead

The biggest consequence of the Charlotte race came in the championship standings.

Caleb Sheets moved up three positions to take over first place with 2,350 points. Zach Thomas Johnson sits second with 2,348, just two points behind, while Tommy Krawczyk is third with 2,346.

Nic Vasquez, who had previously led the standings, dropped to fourth with 2,328 points. Steven Carlile rounds out the top five with 2,281.

Updated Championship Top Five:

  1. Caleb Sheets — 2,350 points
  2. Zach Thomas Johnson — 2,348 points
  3. Tommy Krawczyk — 2,346 points
  4. Nic Vasquez — 2,328 points
  5. Steven Carlile — 2,281 points

The top three are separated by just four points. Sheets now holds the lead, but Johnson and Krawczyk are close enough that another strong performance could immediately change the order.

Vasquez also remains within striking distance. Although he has slipped to fourth, the gap to the championship lead is still small enough for a comeback.

With the standings this tight, every stage point and every finishing position could make a difference in the championship battle.

The Takeaway

Charlotte belonged to Caleb Sheets.

After starting on the pole, Sheets overcame a third-place finish in Stage 1 to dominate Stage 2 and lead 127 laps on his way to victory. Zack Saunders and Cory Mott completed the podium, while Johnson and Krawczyk continued their championship fight with fourth- and fifth-place finishes.

The biggest story, however, is the standings. Sheets now leads the championship, but Johnson sits just two points behind and Krawczyk is only four points off the lead.

North Star Racing leaves Charlotte with a new championship leader and one of the closest battles at the top of the standings all season.

Caleb Sheets has made his move. Now the question is whether Johnson, Krawczyk or Vasquez can answer.