Federal judge allows Gabehart to continue working at Spire, with restrictions

Gabehart barred from Gibbs-related duties at new job, must return data to JGR

Mar. 2, 2026 at 8:31pm

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A federal judge ruled that former Joe Gibbs Racing competition director Chris Gabehart can continue working for Spire Motorsports, but is barred from performing the same role he had at his previous NASCAR team. Gabehart must also return all data and material he has from JGR to the team.

Why it matters

This ruling highlights the ongoing legal battle between Gabehart and his former employer, JGR, over allegations of stolen data and trade secrets. The case raises questions about employee mobility and the protection of proprietary information in the competitive world of NASCAR.

The details

The judge ordered Gabehart, who is now the chief motorsports officer at Spire, to avoid any duties related to his previous role at JGR. A full hearing is scheduled for March 16 to further address JGR's claims that Gabehart caused over $8 million in damages by copying files and setups from the team.

  • The ruling was made on Monday, March 3, 2026.
  • A full hearing on the case is scheduled for March 16, 2026.

The players

Chris Gabehart

Former competition director at Joe Gibbs Racing who is now the chief motorsports officer at Spire Motorsports.

Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR)

The NASCAR team founded by Joe Gibbs, a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Spire Motorsports

The NASCAR team that hired Gabehart and is now involved in the legal dispute with JGR.

Judge Susan C. Rodriguez

The U.S. District Judge who made the ruling in the Western District of North Carolina.

Jeff Dickerson

The co-owner of Spire Motorsports.

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What they’re saying

“Spire takes trade secrets very seriously, and we're a lot of things, but we're not hypocrites. We don't want anybody else's stuff, other than Hendrick, obviously. We're happy. The facts are the facts and I don't have any ill will toward JGR.”

— Jeff Dickerson, Spire Motorsports co-owner

“Deep down, I believe Ty is a really good person who has been delt a really tough hand the last three years, him and his family, and I feel really bad about that.”

— Chris Gabehart

What’s next

The judge has scheduled a full hearing on the case for March 16, 2026, where the remaining issues, including JGR's claims of over $8 million in damages, will be further addressed.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex legal battles that can arise when high-profile employees move between rival organizations in the competitive world of NASCAR. It underscores the importance of protecting trade secrets and proprietary information, while also balancing the rights of workers to pursue new opportunities.