Joe Gibbs Racing has moved to refile a lawsuit that accuses former engineer Chris Gabehart and Spire Motorsports of stealing trade secrets and violating a non‑compete clause.
Judge Approves Refiling
On Monday afternoon a judge confirmed the plaintiffs’ motion to refile, letting Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) continue its legal attack against Gabehart and Spire. The core claims remain unchanged: alleged theft of confidential information and deceitful use of a new job title.
JGR’s Allegations of Misappropriation
Gabehart, who held roles from engineer to competition director, is accused of slurping up JGR files, set‑up sheets and financial reports. JGR maintains that he captured pictures on his personal phone and stored them on Google Drive before deleting them in a forensic review. Spire, meanwhile, has had two Cup Series victories this season, leading JGR to label the gains as a “shortcut” earned through illicit data.
Deceptive Title and Secret Meetings
JGR also cites a Spire employee who reported that Gabehart now leads and participates in the team’s competition strategy meetings, a position that JGR claims is a cover for performing duties identical to those he had at JGR. The lawsuit details how Spire supposedly created the “Chief Motorsports Officer” role to disguise his involvement in NASCAR Cup programming, a claim that the documentation says spurred confusion during the Goodyear 400 on March 22, 2026 and the Food City 500 on April 12, 2026.
Spire’s Counter and Legal Disputes
Gabehart and Spire continue to deny any transfer of trade secrets. They argue that no confidential data was shared and that Spire’s use of Gabehart’s expertise is legitimate. A key point of contention is the alleged early shop entry by Spire in December 2025 and January 2026, which JGR insists violates the non‑compete agreement. JGR also accuses Jeff Dickerson of telling others he possesses portions of JGR’s confidential information.
Third‑Party Discovery Limits
In the broader context, JGR requested discovery into figures such as Justin Marks, Todd Meredit, Joe Custer, and Rick Ware, hoping to prove that Jeff Dickerson disseminated trade secrets. The judge rejected a broad “fishing expedition” unless a clear link could be shown between these parties and Spire’s alleged misconduct.
Implications for the 2026 Cup Season
With the case now on active status, Spire’s role in upcoming Cup races has become a focal point. While Gabehart maintains he was not in breach—pointing to JGR’s abrupt cessation of payments and severance negotiations—JGR remains convinced that Spire is using proprietary information to gain an edge. The court’s next move will determine whether the allegations hold enough weight to halt Spire’s operations or to impose damages on the former JGR crew chief.
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