Joe Gibbs Racing sues ex-director Chris Gabehart over alleged trade secrets theft

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Joe Gibbs Racing has filed a lawsuit against former competition director Chris Gabehart, alleging he embarked on 'a brazen scheme to steal JGR's most sensitive information' for the benefit of rival NASCAR team Spire Motorsports. The suit claims Gabehart violated his contract and stole confidential team trade secrets when 'his demands for additional authority were rebuffed by JGR's owner'.

Why it matters

The case highlights the high-stakes competition in NASCAR, where teams fiercely guard their proprietary information and intellectual property. The lawsuit underscores the risks teams face when key personnel leave to join rival organizations, potentially taking valuable trade secrets with them.

The details

According to the lawsuit, Gabehart, who joined JGR in 2012 and became competition director ahead of the 2025 season, wanted 'carte blanche authority over all racing decisions' but was denied by team owner Joe Gibbs. The suit alleges that Gabehart then began meeting with Spire Motorsports and accessing JGR's confidential files, including folders labeled 'Spire' and 'Past Setups'. JGR claims it later learned Gabehart plans to become Spire's chief motorsports officer, responsible for the team's racing strategy and operations.

• On Nov. 6, 2025, Gabehart asked Joe Gibbs for complete responsibility and control over all competition departments.
• On Nov. 10, Gabehart turned in his JGR laptop and has not worked for the team since.
• On Nov. 13, Gabehart received a job offer from Spire Motorsports.
• On Dec. 2, Gabehart met with Spire co-owner Jeff Dickerson.
• On Dec. 4, Gabehart told JGR he had not spoken to anyone from Spire about employment, which the lawsuit claims was false.

What’s next

The lawsuit is ongoing, and the court will likely need to determine the extent of Gabehart's alleged theft of trade secrets and the appropriate damages owed to Joe Gibbs Racing.