On Friday, Judge Susan C. Rodriguez chose not to immediately decide on the escalating dispute between Joe Gibbs Racing and former team leader Chris Gabehart, urging both parties to continue discussions over the weekend to find a resolution. If talks fail, Rodriguez will decide on the temporary restraining order request on Monday, while Gabehart is permitted to work with Spire Motorsports for the upcoming weekend, according to Alan Cavanna.
Legal Claims in Joe Gibbs Racing’s Suit Against Gabehart
Joe Gibbs Racing filed a lawsuit seeking damages exceeding $8 million, alleging that Gabehart improperly took trade secrets before his departure after the 2025 NASCAR season. The team is also seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to bar Gabehart from performing similar services for Spire Motorsports for 18 months after February 9, 2026.
The lawsuit states that a forensic examination of Gabehart’s company laptop uncovered communications about Spire employment while he was still under contract with Joe Gibbs Racing, along with a folder named Spire and a subfolder called past setups. Joe Gibbs Racing argues these findings suggest the use of confidential competitive information.
Gabehart’s Response and Spire Motorsports’ Position
In a declaration submitted earlier this week, Gabehart denied sharing any proprietary information and affirmed he has respected his confidentiality obligations. He claimed the folders were created only to assess a potential role with Spire and stated he has not offered services to Spire that are
similar to the general type of services
he provided at Joe Gibbs Racing. Gabehart’s position reflects his intent to challenge the team’s assertions in court.
Spire Motorsports has reportedly offered access to an independent forensic investigator to examine its systems and confirm that no Joe Gibbs Racing information was used or transmitted, introducing an effort to clarify the situation. The case received special attention when Judge Rodriguez was assigned last Thursday after the initially assigned judge recused due to a conflict.
Next Steps: Settlement Talks and Potential Court Action
With no ruling delivered Friday, all eyes now turn to whether Joe Gibbs Racing and Gabehart can reach an agreement before the Monday deadline set by Judge Rodriguez. Gabehart remains active in his Spire Motorsports role for the moment, but the possibility of a court-ordered restriction remains if negotiations collapse. This ongoing legal episode highlights the tensions surrounding trade secrets and competitive integrity within NASCAR’s professional ranks.
Update on today's hearing in the JGR vs. Gabehart/Spire case: Judge did not issue a ruling and urged all parties to continue talking through the weekend to find an acceptable resolution for all involved. If they cannot reach a resolution, the judge will then rule on the TRO on…
— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) February 27, 2026
Gabehart is free to continue his work with Spire this weekend.
— Alan Cavanna (@AlanCavanna) February 27, 2026
Gabehart says Spire was willing to allow a neutral forensic investigator to review Spire's materials to confirm that no JGR information had been transmitted or used by Spire.
The offer came in the form of the letter below which Gabehart says JGR never responded to and instead… pic.twitter.com/qTXgAzqUtC
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) February 25, 2026
