Joe Gibbs Racing Accuses Spire Motorsports of Cheating in NASCAR
In an unexpected turn in the world of motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has accused its rival, Spire Motorsports, of unfair practices. The accusation, filed in federal court, alleges that Spire hired a former JGR competition director and used stolen intellectual property to improve its performance. The lawsuit, filed in the Western District of North Carolina, seeks to prevent Chris Gabehart, former competition director of JGR, from working for Spire. JGR, founded by legendary NFL coach Joe Gibbs, argues that Gabehart illegally took data from JGR to benefit Spire.JGR’s lawyer, Tom Melsheimer, argued that Spire, with only one victory in the Cup Series since its inception in 2018, had a clear motive to improve its performance. Melsheimer pointed out that Spire has acknowledged a disappointing 2025 season, which, according to him, led them to seek shortcuts. Gabehart admitted to having photographed data while still working at JGR, but denies having shared it. Spire, for its part, strongly denies having received information from Gabehart. To date, JGR has not presented concrete evidence to support its claim that Spire is in possession of or using stolen information. Spire’s lawyer, Lawrence Cameron, stated that JGR has not provided evidence to support its accusations. Judge Susan C. Rodriguez listened to the arguments for almost four hours and, after deliberating, decided that she needed more time to make a decision. The judge extended the temporary restraining order that prevents Gabehart from performing his duties for Spire until April 9. The case is further complicated by Gabehart’s claims, who maintains that he was misled about his job responsibilities and that his relationship with Gibbs’ grandson, Ty, became unsustainable. Gabehart photographed data and created folders labeled “Spire” and “Past Setups” during the negotiation period of his separation from JGR. His lawyer acknowledged that Gabehart “made a mistake” by photographing the data, but described his documents as something usual in his engineer work. JGR discovered Gabehart’s improper access to the data during separation negotiations and hired a private investigator. JGR stopped paying Gabehart on November 10, 2025, three days after he photographed the data. JGR considers that Gabehart was fired for cause on February 9 and is subject to an 18-month non-compete clause.“A victory gives them a reason to cut corners, hire Gabehart, and we believe that is cheating. Being behind gives them a reason as a struggling company looking to gain an unfair advantage.”
Tom Melsheimer, JGR attorney
