Joe Gibbs Racing sues ex-director over alleged data theft before Spire move
Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has filed a lawsuit against its former competition director, Chris Gabehart, accusing him of stealing sensitive team data. The legal action comes as Gabehart prepares to join rival team Spire Motorsports. He admits to taking photos of JGR files but denies sharing them with anyone else.
Gabehart's departure follows a turbulent period at JGR, where tensions rose over his role as crew chief for Ty Gibbs, the grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs.
The dispute centres on Gabehart's alleged transfer of proprietary information before leaving JGR. According to the lawsuit, a forensic audit by the team uncovered Google searches about Spire Motorsports, along with folders labelled 'Skype' and 'Past Setups'. JGR claims these actions were part of an effort to bring confidential data to his new role.
Gabehart has acknowledged taking photographs of JGR documents on his personal phone. However, he insists the files were for his own evaluation of potentially joining Spire and were never shared. His legal team argues that a separate forensic review found no evidence of him leaking JGR's confidential material.
The conflict escalated after Gabehart's relationship with JGR deteriorated in late 2025. He states he was not paid from November onwards as negotiations over his exit turned hostile. Gabehart also claims his position became untenable due to pressure surrounding his work with Ty Gibbs, whose performance had declined since winning the 2022 Xfinity Series title.
JGR is now seeking a restraining order to block Gabehart from working at Spire. The team estimates his actions have caused over $8 million in damages. Meanwhile, Gabehart maintains his innocence, arguing that the situation stems from a breakdown in trust rather than any wrongdoing.
Ty Gibbs' career trajectory has mirrored some of the team's struggles. After a promising start in the NASCAR Cup Series—finishing 18th in 2023 with 10 top-10 results—his performance dipped. In 2024, he made the playoffs with 12 top-10s but slipped to 19th in 2025, missing the postseason despite a mid-year uptick under Gabehart's interim leadership.
JGR's lawsuit will determine whether Gabehart can proceed with his move to Spire Motorsports. The case hinges on whether his actions constituted theft of trade secrets or were merely preparatory steps for a career change. A court decision could also set a precedent for how teams protect their data in an increasingly competitive motorsport landscape.
For now, Gabehart remains in legal limbo, while JGR pushes for financial compensation and restrictions on his future employment.
