Joe Gibbs Racing Alleges Spire Motorsports Employee Violated Restraining Order

Lawsuit claims Chris Gabehart participated in competition-related activities at Bristol race despite court order

Apr. 14, 2026 at 3:06am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented NASCAR pit crew and race cars, conveying the intense competition and legal tensions between the two teams.The legal dispute between Joe Gibbs Racing and Spire Motorsports over alleged trade secret violations exposes the high-stakes competition behind the scenes of NASCAR.Bristol Today

Joe Gibbs Racing has accused former employee Chris Gabehart, who now works for rival team Spire Motorsports, of violating a temporary restraining order by participating in competition-related activities during a recent NASCAR race at Bristol Motor Speedway. JGR has submitted photographic evidence it says shows Gabehart wearing a radio headset, standing at a pit workstation, and communicating with a Spire driver - actions JGR claims violate the court order limiting Gabehart's involvement with the team.

Why it matters

The ongoing legal battle between JGR and Gabehart over alleged violations of a non-compete agreement and theft of trade secrets has escalated, with JGR now seeking to have the court address what it sees as Gabehart's continued disregard for the restraining order. The outcome could impact Gabehart's ability to work for Spire and the potential damages JGR may be able to recover.

The details

According to court filings, the temporary restraining order issued by Judge Susan C. Rodriguez allows Gabehart to continue working for Spire but prohibits him from providing services similar to his previous role as JGR's competition director. However, JGR claims photographic evidence shows Gabehart engaging in competition-related activities at the Bristol race, including wearing a radio headset, standing at a pit workstation, and communicating with Spire driver Carson Hocevar. JGR argues this demonstrates Gabehart's 'active participation in Spire's race-day competition operations' and creates a risk that JGR's trade secrets could be disclosed or misused.

  • The temporary restraining order was issued as part of the ongoing legal proceedings between JGR and Gabehart over the past two months.
  • The alleged violations by Gabehart occurred during the NASCAR Cup Series race weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 12-14, 2026.

The players

Joe Gibbs Racing

A NASCAR team owned by former NFL coach Joe Gibbs, which has accused former employee Chris Gabehart of violating a restraining order.

Chris Gabehart

A former competition director at Joe Gibbs Racing who now works for rival team Spire Motorsports, and is embroiled in a lawsuit with JGR over alleged violations of a non-compete agreement and theft of trade secrets.

Spire Motorsports

The NASCAR team that hired Chris Gabehart and has been named as a defendant in the lawsuit filed by Joe Gibbs Racing.

Judge Susan C. Rodriguez

The judge who issued the temporary restraining order that limits Chris Gabehart's involvement with Spire Motorsports.

Carson Hocevar

The driver of Spire Motorsports' #77 car in the NASCAR Cup Series.

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What they’re saying

“Executives who do not have input into competition typically are not actively engaged in Practice or Qualifying sessions. Sponsors typically do not attend Practice and Qualifying, particularly at this race.”

— Wally Brown, Competition Director, Joe Gibbs Racing

“In this photograph taken during Practice for the Cup Series, Gabehart appears to be wearing two radios with earpieces-in my experience the kind issued by NASCAR race teams to their competition personnel. Gabehart's use of these radios during this time strongly suggests that he is listening to the radios to obtain competition-related information.”

— Wally Brown, Competition Director, Joe Gibbs Racing

“In my experience, access to the workstation is typically limited to competition personnel with direct input into a Cup team's on-track performance. In the photograph, Gabehart, standing with his back to the camera and wearing a black shirt and jeans, is apparently monitoring data screens. This position in close proximity is consistent with someone providing input into competition decisions. His presence at this location during Practice, as well as his specific location within the workstation, suggests to me Gabehart was likely actively participating in Spire's competition operations for the NASCAR Cup race.”

— Wally Brown, Competition Director, Joe Gibbs Racing

“This photograph was taken at the end of Qualifying and shows Gabehart in close proximity to someone who appears to be Carson Hocevar, the driver of Spire's Number 77 Cup Series car. In the photograph, Gabehart appears to be standing and looking at a screen. Hocevar- the Spire driver- appears to be seated in the workstation wearing glasses. In my experience, direct communication between competition leadership and drivers at the end of Qualifying typically involves discussing the driver's performance during Qualifying, and the car's handling. This type of apparent interaction -- occurring immediately after Qualifying-suggests to me Gabehart was likely actively participating in Spire's competition operations, providing the kind of input and feedback that a Competition Director provides to the team after Qualifying.”

— Wally Brown, Competition Director, Joe Gibbs Racing

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to hold Gabehart in contempt of court for allegedly violating the temporary restraining order.

The takeaway

This ongoing legal battle between two rival NASCAR teams highlights the high stakes involved when it comes to protecting trade secrets and enforcing non-compete agreements in the fast-paced world of motorsports.