Joe Gibbs Racing has taken the unexpected step of filing a lawsuit against their former competition director, accusing him of misappropriating sensitive team information and potentially benefiting a rival competitor in Spire Motorsports, according to multiple reports.
In court papers filed this week, the powerhouse NASCAR organization alleges that Chris Gabehart “embarked on a brazen scheme to steal JGR’s most sensitive information and use it for the benefit of a direct competitor”, identifying Spire Motorsports as the likely beneficiary, according to reporting by The Athletic.
The suit seeks damages and injunctive relief, asking the court to bar Gabehart from violating contractual obligations and from using what JGR says are confidential trade secrets.
Gabehart, 44, who left Joe Gibbs Racing after the 2025 season, has not confirmed any future plans with another team, and Spire Motorsports has not publicly announced a deal with him.
His departure was widely reported last winter during the high-profile NASCAR antitrust trial, when Associated Press reporter Jenna Fryer confirmed he had exited the organization after serving as director of competition.
Gabehart’s résumé in NASCAR is significant.
He joined JGR in 2012 as an engineer, ascended to crew chief and helped guide Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 team to 22 victories, including back-to-back Daytona 500 wins and multiple Championship 4 appearances.
In late 2024 he was promoted to competition director, a broad role intended to coordinate performance across the organization.
Rumors had swirled in the offseason that Gabehart would land at Spire, a growing team seeking competitive leverage, though no formal announcement has been made.
The lawsuit’s allegations hinge on JGR’s contention that Gabehart used his insider position to benefit that or another rival.
In a recent interview on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, team owner Joe Gibbs acknowledged Gabehart’s departure but offered no explanation for the split, saying only that the two “decided to go our separate ways” and outlining how JGR reorganized its competition group.
This legal action marks an unusual and dramatic escalation in one of NASCAR racing’s biggest off-track explosions, just going to show the high stakes surrounding proprietary engineering data and the competitive landscape as teams prepare for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.
