Home / Sports / JGR Sues Ex-Director Over Alleged Data Theft
JGR Sues Ex-Director Over Alleged Data Theft
20 Feb
Summary
- Joe Gibbs Racing alleges Chris Gabehart stole sensitive data.
- Gabehart is accused of using personal phone to photograph laptop.
- Lawsuit seeks over $8 million in damages from former employee.
Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has initiated a lawsuit against its former competition director, Chris Gabehart, alleging a plot to steal trade secrets for a rival NASCAR team, Spire Motorsports. The legal action, filed on Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, claims Gabehart engaged in a "brazen scheme" to acquire and misuse JGR's confidential information.
The lawsuit states Gabehart expressed dissatisfaction with his role and sought greater authority over JGR's competition efforts. When his demands for "carte blanche authority" were denied by team owner Joe Gibbs, Gabehart informed the company of his departure, with his last day set for November 10, 2025.
During a standard forensic analysis of Gabehart's JGR-issued computer following his exit, the team discovered he had accessed proprietary information beyond his usual duties. Investigators allege Gabehart used his personal cell phone to photograph his laptop screen, a method used to conceal his illicit access to JGR's confidential data and trade secrets.
Further forensic examination revealed extensive communication between Gabehart and Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson, including in-person meetings. Gabehart's personal Google Drive contained a folder labeled "Spire" with subfolders for "Past Setups," and he had conducted online searches related to Spire in October and November 2025.
Specifically, JGR claims Gabehart photographed detailed team payroll, including compensation and contract lengths for employees, as well as driver pay for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, and revenue figures from sponsors and partners for the 2024-2026 seasons. Gabehart informed JGR of an offer from Spire on December 17, 2025, and on February 11, 2026, it was confirmed he took the position of Chief Motorsports Officer at Spire.
JGR, a highly regarded NASCAR team with five Cup Series championships, is seeking damages exceeding $8,000,000. Gabehart, who joined JGR in 2012 and previously served as Denny Hamlin's crew chief from 2019-2024, leading to 22 wins including two Daytona 500s, was appointed competition director in November 2024.
