Chris Gabehart joins Spire Motorsports amid legal battle with Joe Gibbs Racing

Gabehart appears at IndyCar race as court deadline looms in dispute over his employment

Published on Mar. 3, 2026

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Chris Gabehart, the former competition director at Joe Gibbs Racing, has joined Spire Motorsports as their chief motorsports officer while he fights a legal battle with his former employer over the move. Gabehart was spotted at the IndyCar race in St. Petersburg, Florida, where Spire's parent company TWG Motorsports has cars racing, as lawyers work to resolve the dispute before a court deadline on Monday.

Why it matters

The legal battle between Gabehart and Joe Gibbs Racing has drawn unwanted attention to NASCAR, with the sport trying to capitalize on momentum from the offseason. The dispute raises questions about employee mobility and the protection of proprietary information in the motorsports industry.

The details

Gabehart spent 13 years at Joe Gibbs Racing, rising to the role of competition director in 2025. A dispute over his new role late last year led to contentious negotiations on his separation, and Gabehart ultimately accepted a job with Spire as their chief motorsports officer. Joe Gibbs Racing is seeking a restraining order to stop Gabehart from working for Spire, alleging he took proprietary information to his new employer.

  • Gabehart joined Joe Gibbs Racing in 2012 as an engineer.
  • Gabehart became the competition director at Joe Gibbs Racing ahead of the 2025 season.
  • Gabehart accepted a job with Spire Motorsports late last year.
  • A federal judge ordered negotiations to continue or she will make a ruling on Monday, February 28, 2026, regarding Gabehart's ability to work for Spire.

The players

Chris Gabehart

The former competition director at Joe Gibbs Racing who has joined Spire Motorsports as their chief motorsports officer.

Joe Gibbs Racing

The NASCAR team founded by Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs, which is seeking a restraining order to stop Gabehart from working for Spire Motorsports.

Spire Motorsports

The NASCAR team that has hired Gabehart as their chief motorsports officer, and has been named as a defendant in the lawsuit filed by Joe Gibbs Racing.

Ty Gibbs

The 23-year-old grandson of Joe Gibbs who moved to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2023 and is winless in 125 starts.

Jeff Dickerson

The co-owner of Spire Motorsports, who clarified that Gabehart's new role is much larger than his previous position at Joe Gibbs Racing.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's insulting to say that it's the same role, because it's not the same role. We have a significant investment in Chris and we're giving him the autonomy to do what he needs to do, not just to help the NASCAR program. We have all these other businesses that need a lot of help, too. That's why we brought him in.”

— Jeff Dickerson, Spire Motorsports co-owner (audacy.com)

“With all the momentum the sport currently has, coming off everything in the offseason, I think this is a very unfortunate spot for the sport to be in, in the public light. This is something that could have been taken care of behind closed doors. I can respect the fact that we are working our way through it and will continue to do so as long as it takes.”

— Chris Gabehart (audacy.com)

“I understand the public narrative that has come along with the things that I've been forced to say in public. But those have nothing to do with this. As a matter of fact, 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 (audacy.com)

What’s next

A federal judge will make a ruling on Monday, February 28, 2026, regarding Gabehart's ability to work for Spire Motorsports, based on the ongoing negotiations between the parties.

The takeaway

The legal dispute between Chris Gabehart and Joe Gibbs Racing highlights the complexities and challenges surrounding employee mobility and the protection of proprietary information in the highly competitive world of motorsports. The outcome of this case could have broader implications for the industry.