Joe Gibbs Racing Alleges Deleted Texts, Trade Secret Use in Lawsuit Against Gabehart and Spire Motorsports
Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has intensified its legal battle against former competition director Chris Gabehart and Spire Motorsports, alleging that Gabehart deleted text messages relevant to the case and immediately implemented JGR’s trade secrets at his new employer. The claims were made in a Wednesday night filing in the Western District of North Carolina, escalating the dispute over intellectual property and competitive advantage [1].
Deleted Communications and Adverse Inferences
JGR contends that Gabehart admitted to deleting text messages exchanged with Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson prior to November 15, 2025, hindering the discovery process. The team argues that the timing of the deletion – shortly after allegedly misappropriating JGR’s trade secrets – warrants an “adverse inference,” suggesting the messages contained damaging information [1]. According to the filing, Gabehart claimed he deleted the texts because he didn’t anticipate litigation at the time, a justification JGR disputes given subsequent discussions about a potential lawsuit [1].
Allegations of Immediate Trade Secret Implementation
JGR asserts that Gabehart didn’t merely take JGR’s trade secrets but “immediately operationalized” them for Spire’s benefit. The team points to a “Focus Plan” created by Gabehart referencing categories of misappropriated materials and replicating JGR’s proprietary analytics tools for Spire’s use [1]. Specifically, JGR alleges Gabehart created a spreadsheet in January 2026 that closely mirrored JGR’s race-performance analytics tool, utilizing JGR terminology and approaches [1].
Financial Implications and Indemnity
JGR is seeking over $8 million in damages from Gabehart and Spire Motorsports and a preliminary injunction to prevent them from working together [1]. The team also alleges that Spire Motorsports is financially supporting Gabehart’s legal defense and that discussions about indemnity were held between the two parties [1]. Spire president Bill Anthony has stated that the team is covering Gabehart’s legal fees, a practice that was not initially part of their agreement [1].
Ongoing Legal Proceedings and Expedited Trial Request
The case is scheduled to be argued in court on Thursday, where JGR will seek the preliminary injunction. JGR is also requesting an expedited trial schedule to resolve the dispute before the end of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season [1]. Previously, a judge ruled that Gabehart could continue to function for Spire Motorsports but not in the same duties he performed at JGR [3]. Joe Gibbs Racing initially had Gabehart followed by a private investigator prior to filing the lawsuit [4].
JGR alleges that Gabehart began creating a strategy plan for Spire within 15 days of leaving JGR and receiving an offer from Spire [1].