Chris Gabehart has responded publicly to a federal lawsuit filed by his former employer, Joe Gibbs Racing. The team filed the case on February 19 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina and is seeking more than 8 million dollars in damages.
Joe Gibbs Racing claims Gabehart took confidential team information while negotiating his move to Spire Motorsports. Gabehart spent more than a decade with the organization, rising from engineer to competition director before leaving in December 2025.
One day after the lawsuit became public, he posted a statement on X, rejecting the accusations and stating thathhe plans to defend himself in court. The dispute has drawn attention across NASCAR as both sides prepare for the next legal steps.
Joe Gibbs Racing Details Accusations in Federal Filing
Joe Gibbs Racing alleges Chris Gabehart collected and retained sensitive internal data connected to both competition and business operations. In the complaint, the team claims he carried out a “brazen scheme” to misappropriate information while discussions about his future employment were ongoing.
The filing states that the information at issue includes race setup details, performance analytics, payroll records, and sponsorship information. The team argues that these materials qualify as trade secrets and confidential business data.
The lawsuit also references forensic findings. According to the complaint, investigators found Google searches related to Spire Motorsports, a computer folder labeled “Spire,” and photos of internal documents that Joe Gibbs Racing considers confidential. Based on these claims, the organization filed suit in federal court and is seeking damages exceeding $8 million.
Chris Gabehart rejects claims and points to forensic examination
Gabehart responded with a public statement denying the accusations. “Yesterday afternoon, Joe Gibbs Racing filed a lawsuit claiming, falsely, that I shared JGR confidential information with Spire Motorsports and/or other unnamed third parties. I feel compelled to speak out today and forcefully and emphatically deny these frivolous and retaliatory claims.”
He also addressed the legal process ahead, stating, “I look forward to the opportunity to demonstrate to the Court that I have not shared JGR’s confidential information with anyone. In fact, I have already demonstrated that to JGR.”
Gabehart said a third-party forensic expert hired by Joe Gibbs Racing examined his laptop, cell phone, and personal Google Drive. In his account, the findings were clear, with the expert reporting “no evidence to support the baseless allegations.”
He further said Spire Motorsports offered Joe Gibbs Racing access to audit Spire’s internal systems before the lawsuit was filed. Gabehart stated that the offer was declined and described the decision to file suit as “spiteful.”
Case Moves Forward as Legal Responses are Prepared
Gabehart indicated that additional details will come through formal legal filings. He wrote, “Stay tuned. We will have much more to say in the legal response we will be filing in the coming days.”
The dispute comes as NASCAR teams prepare for the 2026 season, placing attention on how the legal process will unfold. The case will now proceed through the federal court system, where both parties can submit evidence, responses, and motions.
Joe Gibbs Racing has presented its claims in the initial complaint, while Gabehart has issued a direct denial and signaled he will challenge the accusations in court. Future filings and court proceedings will determine how the dispute develops and whether the claims proceed to trial or to another resolution.
Joe Gibbs Racing Trade Secret Claims Prompt Strong Denial From Chris Gabehart