Joe Gibbs Racing sues former employee, alleges theft of trade secrets

NASCAR team files amended lawsuit against ex-competition director, adds Spire Motorsports as defendant

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Joe Gibbs Racing has amended a recent lawsuit it filed against a former key employee, Chris Gabehart, to include a competing NASCAR team, Spire Motorsports. JGR alleges Gabehart, who previously served as the team's competition director, stole proprietary information and shared it with Spire, giving the rival team an unfair competitive advantage.

Why it matters

This case highlights the intense competition and high stakes in NASCAR, where teams fiercely guard their intellectual property and technical secrets. The lawsuit underscores the lengths teams will go to protect their investments and maintain a competitive edge on the track.

The details

According to the amended lawsuit, JGR claims Gabehart 'embarked on a brazen scheme to steal JGR's most sensitive information' after the team declined to give him 'carte blanche authority' over competition matters. JGR alleges Gabehart created folders and documents containing the team's proprietary data, which he then shared with Spire Motorsports after joining the rival organization as chief motorsports officer.

  • On February 9, 2026, JGR terminated Gabehart's employment and sent him a letter stating he had 'violated his contractual obligations, company policy, and state and federal law'.
  • On February 11, 2026, JGR first learned that Gabehart had joined Spire Motorsports, prompting the team to file the lawsuit the following week.

The players

Joe Gibbs Racing

A NASCAR team owned by Super Bowl-winning head coach Joe Gibbs.

Chris Gabehart

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

Spire Motorsports

A competing NASCAR team that hired Chris Gabehart after he left Joe Gibbs Racing.

Denny Hamlin

A NASCAR driver who co-owns the Cup team 23XI Racing and commented on the importance of protecting proprietary information in the sport.

Jeff Dickerson

A co-owner of Spire Motorsports.

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What they’re saying

“If Joe Gibbs Racing is willing to go to court, I think they're pretty serious, I'll say that. Joe ain't looking to fight anyone.”

— Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver and team co-owner (Actions Detrimental podcast)

“I look forward to the opportunity to demonstrate to the court that I have not shared JGR confidential information with anyone. In fact, I have already demonstrated that to JGR. A third-party forensic expert retained by JGR recently examined my laptop, cell phone and personal Google Drive and found no evidence to support the baseless allegations in JGR's lawsuit.”

— Chris Gabehart (X (formerly Twitter)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on whether to grant JGR's request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against Gabehart and Spire Motorsports.

The takeaway

This lawsuit underscores the intense competition and high stakes in NASCAR, where teams are willing to go to court to protect their intellectual property and technical secrets. It highlights the importance of non-compete agreements and the risks of employees taking sensitive information to rival organizations.