Joe Gibbs Racing quickly responded after a federal court granted a limited temporary restraining order on Monday as part of the Joe Gibbs Racing legal battle with former competition director Chris Gabehart. The organization announced it intends to continue fighting the case following the ruling from the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.
JGR Reacts to Court Ruling and Outlines Intentions
After Judge Susan C. Rodriguez issued her decision, Joe Gibbs Racing released a public statement indicating approval of the outcome and reaffirmed its commitment to move forward with the legal proceedings. In the statement shared by Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic, the team declared,
“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,”
—Team statement via Jordan Bianchi, The Athletic. They continued,
“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.”
—Team statement via Jordan Bianchi, The Athletic.
Scope of Temporary Restraining Order Defined
The restraining order was implemented following JGR’s attempt to prevent Chris Gabehart from taking on duties at Spire Motorsports that would overlap with his former position at Joe Gibbs Racing. Judge Rodriguez outlined that the order would apply specifically to functions connected to Gabehart’s prior responsibilities as competition director, but she did not prohibit him from working at Spire Motorsports in broader areas not linked to his JGR role. Rodriguez made clear during the hearing that, “Other duties are fair game,” meaning Gabehart’s work would only be restricted in areas that might competitively overlap with his previous job.
Perspectives from Spire and Gabehart
From the perspective of Spire Motorsports and Gabehart, the court’s decision was not viewed as a major obstacle. Gabehart’s representatives stressed that his current responsibilities as Chief Motorsports Officer are more wide-ranging than his past position, covering oversight of several racing programs beyond just the NASCAR Cup Series. Spire maintains that the new role does not mirror what Gabehart undertook at Joe Gibbs Racing and continues to assert that no confidential or proprietary information has been improperly shared.
Details Behind the Legal Dispute
The legal dispute intensified as Joe Gibbs Racing filed a motion for expedited discovery, requesting communications involving Gabehart, Spire co-owner Jeff Dickerson, and TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss. JGR presented what they believe to be forensic evidence, including an internet search for the word “indemnify” following a meeting between Gabehart and Spire’s leadership. Gabehart, however, has denied any wrongdoing and insists he respected his confidentiality obligations when departing JGR.
Next Steps in the Case
The court is scheduled to revisit the matter on March 16, when Judge Susan C. Rodriguez will consider the prospect of expedited discovery and whether a more comprehensive injunction should be enacted. For the present, Chris Gabehart continues in his capacity at Spire Motorsports, although the broader Joe Gibbs Racing legal battle shows no sign of ending soon. As both organizations maintain firm stances, the ongoing proceedings are likely to remain a significant topic within the motorsports community and could potentially influence future agreements and legal standards within the racing industry.
Joe Gibbs Racing statement on today's ruling: pic.twitter.com/8Cd7LT9SUq
— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) March 2, 2026
