A federal judge ruled Monday that former Joe Gibbs Racing competition director Chris Gabehart can continue working at Spire Motorsports while a legal dispute between the two NASCAR organizations plays out in federal court. The ruling lets Gabehart keep his position as chief motorsports officer at Spire’s parent company, but bars him from performing any duties connected to his previous role at Joe Gibbs Racing.
What The Judge Actually Decided
The order came from U.S. District Judge Susan C. Rodriguez in the Western District of North Carolina, following a hearing tied to Joe Gibbs Racing’s request for a restraining order that would have blocked Gabehart from working for Spire entirely. The judge had previously instructed both sides to attempt a resolution after an earlier hearing, and rather than grant the full restraining order JGR sought, she allowed Gabehart to keep working while placing specific limits on his role.
The court also ordered Gabehart to return any data and documents belonging to Joe Gibbs Racing still in his possession, after the team alleged proprietary files were taken when he left the organization.
The $8 Million Data Allegation
Separately, Joe Gibbs Racing has accused Gabehart of copying team data and setups the organization values at more than $8 million, alleging in court filings that the files were taken from internal systems and could potentially benefit a competitor. Spire Motorsports has also been named as a defendant in the case because of Gabehart’s employment there. That portion of the dispute hasn’t been addressed by the court yet — Monday’s proceeding focused specifically on the restraining order request, not the underlying data claims.
Court filings show Gabehart has acknowledged taking phone photographs of certain internal JGR files, including a spreadsheet tied to team projects, but he maintains a forensic review found no evidence that information was ever shared with an outside organization. He has also said tensions developed inside Joe Gibbs Racing during the final stretch of his tenure there, and that the competition director role he accepted ahead of the 2025 season ended up differing from what he originally expected.
Spire Motorsports leadership has said it supports the judge’s decision and maintains the organization doesn’t seek confidential information from competitors, stating the team takes trade secrets seriously and has no interest in data belonging to other organizations. Spire already maintains a technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports, the winningest team in NASCAR history, giving it legitimate access to technical support and performance data through that existing partnership.
A Decade At JGR, Then A Fast Exit
The dispute centers on Gabehart’s departure after more than a decade at Joe Gibbs Racing. He joined the organization in 2012 as an engineer, worked his way up to crew chief for Denny Hamlin, and later moved into the competition director role ahead of the 2025 season. During his run as Hamlin’s crew chief, Gabehart helped the team to 22 Cup Series victories, including two Daytona 500 wins, and the pairing reached NASCAR’s championship finale three times across six seasons together. Hamlin finished fifth or better in the standings six times during that stretch and consistently ranked near the top of the series in wins and laps led.
Gabehart has already stepped into his new role publicly, appearing over the weekend at the IndyCar event in St. Petersburg, Florida. His position at Spire extends beyond NASCAR, overseeing racing operations tied to TWG Global’s broader motorsports portfolio, which also includes Andretti Global in IndyCar. At Spire, he now works alongside a NASCAR Cup Series program fielding Carson Hocevar, Michael McDowell, and Daniel Suarez, plus a Truck Series operation — a category Joe Gibbs Racing doesn’t currently compete in.
What Happens Next
Joe Gibbs Racing leadership, including founder Joe Gibbs and co-owner Heather Gibbs, attended last week’s hearing on the restraining order request but were not present for Monday’s brief proceeding. Gibbs founded the organization in 1992 following a Hall of Fame coaching career with Washington’s NFL franchise, where he won three Super Bowls before building JGR into one of NASCAR’s most successful teams; he’s since been inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
The case now moves toward its next phase, with both organizations preparing for a hearing scheduled for March 16. Until then, Gabehart remains employed at Spire Motorsports, restricted only from duties tied directly to his former role at Joe Gibbs Racing.
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