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n Thursday, February 19, NASCAR team Joe Gibbs Racing filed suit against a former key employee for allegedly stealing proprietary information and taking it to his new team.
The suit was filed against Christopher Gabehart in the Western District of NC alleging the former Crew Chief and Director of Competition stole confidential JGR information as he was preparing to leave the team. He is now employed by Spire Motorsports.
NASCAR’s Joe Gibbs Racing Sues Former Executive for Stealing Information
The suit alleges Gabehart started taking photos and confiscating proprietary information after the two parties parted ways in November 2025 season. The suit further states the accused took the information to his new team, Spire Motorsports, after leaving JGR in November 2025.
Gibbs fields Toyotas and Spire Chevrolets.
The alleged files taken from JGR by Gabehart include a Google drive that was synced to proprietary files labeled Spire, analytic reports, payroll data, sponsorship revenue, driver salaries, and documents detailing race setups. The suit further alleges Gabehart took the information before being formally hired by Spire Motorsports. Although, to this day, Spire has not made a formal announcement of Gabehart being part of the team.
JGR is suing Gabehart for approximately $8 million in compensation. They are seeking to stop the use of their stolen information. The team is asserting claims under the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act, North Carolina trade secret law, unfair trade practices statutes, and breach of contract, citing confidentiality, non-compete, and non-solicitation provisions in his employment agreement.
Alleged Theft Described as Brazen
Wording the lawsuit stated Gabehart’s actions were “a brazen scheme to steal JGR’s most sensitive information” and take it to Spire. The suit further says the former executive stole confidential trade secrets after his “his demands for additional authority were rebuffed by JGR’s owner.”
In other words, Gabehart wanted more authority in the running of the team and JGR declined his request. This came to a head on Nov. 6, 2025 when the Director of Competition wanted more control. Once his demands weren’t met, the team and suit allude Gabehart began the theft of pertinent information while planning to leave for Spire.
While still trying to work out a deal for Gabehart to remain at JGR, the entity learned he had been talking with Spire to go work there. Thus, JGR called for a forensic analysis on their employee’s company issued laptop.
The suit said “the results were shocking,” saying it revealed Google searches about Spire in October and November, folders titled “Spire” and “Past Setups” and multiple images JGR of trade secrets and confidential information on the laptop.
Headed to Spire
Further language revealed JGR found out on Feb. 11 that Gabehart was going to become an executive at Spire as the team’s chief motorsports officer. That role would place him over all of their racing operations, car builds and race day strategy.
The suit claims “This was new information to JGR, as Defendant previously represented to JGR… that the job offer he received from Spire was for a role in which he would not provide Spire with services similar to the services he provided JGR.”
On Nov. 10, 2025, Gabehart turned in his JGR laptop for good. The suit alleges the offer to come work for Spire was made on Nov. 13. It also alleges Gabehart tried to recruit JGR employees to come work with him at Spire.
Gabehart and Hamlin had Successful Run
From 2019 to 2024, Gabehart was the crew chief for three-time Daytona 500 champion driver Denny Hamlin. In 2025, the native of Lafeyette, IN was promoted to Director of Competition for all of JGR.
During his time with Hamlin, the duo won 22 races and finished top five in points in all but one year, which was 2024, when the ranked eighth.
Joe Gibbs Racing Sues Former Crew Chief