A judge in North Carolina has ruled that Chris Gabehart may remain as Chief Motorsports Officer at Spire Motorsports, but with strict limitations on his duties to avoid conflict with his previous role at Joe Gibbs Racing. This decision comes in the midst of an ongoing Joe Gibbs Racing lawsuit, which accuses Gabehart of potentially misusing proprietary information after his recent termination.
Judge Sets Restrictions on Gabehart’s Role at Spire
Chris Gabehart, formerly a crew chief and Competition Director for Joe Gibbs Racing, secured a mixed outcome in a recent court hearing. The court determined that he could continue his position at Spire Motorsports, provided he does not perform the same services for Spire as he did at JGR. The judge scheduled another hearing about a possible preliminary injunction for March 16 to further address unresolved issues.
The court’s order prohibits Gabehart from engaging in any responsibilities at Spire that parallel those he handled at Joe Gibbs Racing, ensuring he does not use knowledge or practices learned during his previous employment. Additionally, Gabehart is required to return all confidential materials and trade secrets related to JGR. Spire Motorsports, where Gabehart currently holds the title of Chief Motorsports Officer, maintains that his job at Spire is distinct, noting that Matt McCall occupies the role of Competition Director at Spire, separating their respective functions.
“Mixed ruling in court today as Gabehart can continue working for Spire so long as it’s not the same duties as JGR. Next hearing on preliminary injunction March 16.” — Jenna Fryer, Reporter
Joe Gibbs Racing Expands Legal Action Against Spire and Gabehart
The ruling follows a previous hearing in which Joe Gibbs Racing urged the court to prevent Gabehart from carrying out
“services for Spire similar to those he provided to JGR”
for at least 18 months post-termination. In their latest legal motion, JGR also named Spire Motorsports as a co-defendant, arguing that both the company and Gabehart must be stopped from using confidential information allegedly misappropriated from JGR.
According to JGR’s complaint, Gabehart, their former
“employee embarked on a brazen scheme to steal JGR’s most sensitive information and use it for the benefit of a direct competitor in NASCAR.”
Gabehart, in response, denied these claims, disputing that he intended to aid a rival organization and criticizing aspects of JGR’s operational structure, including activities related to Ty Gibbs’ No. 54 team.
Legal Arguments and Confidentiality Claims Intensify
JGR’s filings from February requested that the court block Gabehart for at least 18 months from utilizing any strategic insight or trade secrets obtained during his time with the company. The NASCAR team also emphasized that Gabehart must relinquish all “Confidential Information and Trade Secrets” obtained during his tenure at JGR.
Meanwhile, legal documents presented by Spire indicated that in February, Gabehart agreed to a Confidentiality Agreement and Non-Disclosure Agreement, which stated that he would not
“disclose JGR Confidential Information to Company or use JR Confidential Information for the Company’s benefit or in connection with any services performed for or on behalf of the Company.”
Both Spire and Gabehart insist that the obligations of this agreement have not been violated in his current position.
“We are pleased with today’s ruling by the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina for a temporary restraining order enforcing the terms of our contract with Chris Gabehart. We will continue the legal process to protect our information and fight for what is right for our race team, our employees, and our partners.” — Joe Gibbs Racing
Looking Ahead: Further Proceedings and Industry Impact
Despite expressing satisfaction with the recent temporary restraining order, Joe Gibbs Racing signaled that court proceedings are ongoing and may become more contentious in the weeks ahead. The next scheduled hearing on the preliminary injunction is set for March 16, where the court will determine whether further restrictions on Gabehart’s work will be necessary while the Joe Gibbs Racing lawsuit continues.
The outcome of this dispute, which involves central NASCAR figures and key organizations such as Spire Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing, could set important precedents for how confidential information is handled across the industry following high-profile personnel changes. The intense scrutiny reflects concerns about competitive advantage and intellectual property within top racing teams, as both parties continue to navigate the legal process in North Carolina’s Western District court.
Mixed ruling in court today as Gabehart can continue working for Spire so long as it’s not the same duties as JGR. Next hearing on preliminary injunction March 16.
— Jenna Fryer (@JennaFryer) March 2, 2026
