Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has intensified its legal action against Chris Gabehart and Spire Motorsports, seeking a restraining order and alleging misuse of proprietary information. Gabehart, a former JGR crew chief, was hired by Spire Motorsports as Chief Motorsports Officer. JGR claims Gabehart violated non-compete agreements by transferring confidential data to Spire after his proposals within JGR were declined.
JGR alleges Gabehart transferred files to his personal Google Drive and photographed team setups, potentially compromising competitive strategies. Initially targeting only Gabehart, JGR’s amended lawsuit now includes Spire, accusing it of knowingly inducing Gabehart to breach his contract.
The lawsuit argues that Gabehart’s actions, if unchecked, could allow Spire to replicate JGR’s competitive setups, which are critical in the tightly-knit NextGen car era. JGR is asking the court to prevent Gabehart from working with Spire and to return any confidential materials.
The team highlights the risks of irreparable harm from the misuse of trade secrets, impacting their competitive edge and reputation. JGR has requested court intervention, as neither Gabehart nor Spire consent to the proposed legal restrictions. A response from Gabehart is expected shortly.