Joe Gibbs Racing Sues Former Competition Director

The team seeks an 18-month non-compete order and more than $8 million in damages against Chris Gabehart.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Joe Gibbs Racing has filed a federal lawsuit against its former competition director Chris Gabehart, seeking to enforce an 18-month non-compete clause that would prevent him from taking a similar position with Spire Motorsports. JGR is also requesting over $8 million in compensatory and punitive damages, alleging that Gabehart improperly accessed and retained confidential team information before leaving the organization.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of non-compete agreements in the highly competitive world of NASCAR, where teams seek to protect their intellectual property and trade secrets. The outcome could set a precedent for how such disputes are handled in the future.

The details

According to the lawsuit, Gabehart accessed and photographed sensitive JGR data, including driver compensation details, team financials, and proprietary technical information, just before announcing his departure to join Spire Motorsports. JGR contends this violates the non-compete clause in Gabehart's contract, which prohibits him from working for a competitor for 18 months after leaving the organization.

  • On November 2025, Gabehart announced his decision to leave JGR.
  • The following day, Gabehart allegedly accessed JGR's computer network and took photos of confidential team data.
  • On February 26, 2026, JGR filed the federal lawsuit seeking to enforce the non-compete agreement and recover damages.

The players

Joe Gibbs Racing

A prominent NASCAR team that fields cars for several top drivers.

Chris Gabehart

The former competition director at Joe Gibbs Racing who has been hired by Spire Motorsports.

Spire Motorsports

A NASCAR team that has hired Gabehart as its chief motorsports officer.

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What they’re saying

“We must protect our intellectual property and the competitive advantages we've worked hard to build.”

— Joe Gibbs, Owner, Joe Gibbs Racing

“This lawsuit is nothing more than a spiteful attempt to prevent me from advancing my career.”

— Chris Gabehart, Former Competition Director, Joe Gibbs Racing

What’s next

The hearing on JGR's request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against Gabehart and Spire Motorsports is scheduled for this Friday.

The takeaway

This case underscores the high stakes and fierce competition in NASCAR, where teams will go to court to protect their trade secrets and intellectual property from being exploited by rival organizations.