Lawsuit Update: Gabehart Calls JGR Competition Team “Dysfunctional,” Ty Gibbs “Not Accountable”
What’s Happening? Former Joe Gibbs Racing Crew Chief and Competition Director Chris Gabehart has filed a new response slamming JGR as…
All signs are pointing to a resurgence of NASCAR popularity. Ratings for the week are heading up, even if the 500 saw a dip. Stars of popular culture and other sports are showing up to the track. Fans are talking about the race. Every ticket for the Daytona 500 was sold out – not just grandstands. New partnerships continually pop up. For someone looking at the business side of the sport, it is an exciting time for growth.
Fox announced an 8% drop in the average viewership Wednesday, but the 500 was still the most watched TV event of the weekend and peaked over 10Million viewers as fans tuned in for the finish. NASCAR may never see the over 19Million viewers of the 2006 Daytona 500. It’s important to note that the TV environment has changed drastically since then. Even Major League Baseball, “America’s Pastime”, has seen its World Series viewership cut in half since their 2001 peak. While the ratings might appear modest to some, there are many indicators that say NASCAR is trending the popular direction.
New partnerships have given NASCAR fan’s optimism for the future. Ally has added to their driver and race sponsorship by becoming the Official Banking Partner of NASCAR. Many other car and single race sponsors have increased or extended their commitments. LEGO has announced they are getting involved with the sport. It’s been a long time since a rock & roll icon has been seen on a car, but Guns N Roses was a huge hit on Erik Jones’ hood.
TV ratings and growing partnerships aren’t the only trumpets announcing NASCAR’s return to its peak glory days. Daytona International Speedway announced a complete sell out for the 2023 Great American Race. While this marks the 8th straight sell-out for the grandstands, this is the first time in several years that the infield and camping slots were also sold out.
Unfortunately, many fans watching at home were held back from fully enjoying the race. Between ill-timed commercials and kinks with new technology, the Fox broadcast struggled to deliver a product commensurate with what the sell-out crowd enjoyed.
What You Need To Know:
Jimmie Johnson showed the crowd size from his view at a pre-race function early Sunday.
Truck driver Chase Purdy noticed the electric crowd from his driver’s seat.
While some drivers were thrilled with the crowd in the stands, others noticed a common fan complaint – a premature finish to the broadcast.
Pit road specialist Bozi Tatarevic captured attendance from the infield shortly before the race.
Denny Hamlin was quick to chime in after ratings were released with a positive outlook.
Fans also noticed the packed stands.
While so many more focused the broadcast issues. Some called it the Commercial 500.
Social media was on fire about the production on TV.
It wasn’t just about the commercials either. The prerace interviews are commonly seeing as contrived and corny. The 500 gridwalk was no different. Jay unfavorably compared “Mikey’s” walk to that of Formula 1’s Martin Brundle.
Fox added some new technology to give a driver’s eye view of the race. While the concept was met with excitement, the broadcast was forced to blur out the dash. This blurring turned into most of the screen, to which fans were very strongly opposed.
In Fox’s defense, the blurred area was reduced as was the pixelation as the weekend wore on. Many fans still wondered, “In 2023, why wasn’t Fox prepared for the biggest NASCAR broadcast of the year?”
After the ratings were released, fans continued to blame Fox’s production for the drop.
The hosts of Door Bumper Clear gave their usual, pointed industry insight on this week’s podcast.
Understanding that ads are the way that revenue is generated for the broadcast to be possible, the DBC boys discuss potential areas of improvement in the broadcast.
Dale Jr. broke down his perspective with Steve Letarte on the Tuesday edition of the Dale Jr. Download. As the two are experienced on the track and in the broadcast booth, their takes on the broadcast gave multiple sides of the story.
The Iceberg discussed the race and the entertainment around it on his YouTube channel.
UPDATE 2/23: The Iceberg takes a deeper look at the ratings drop.
David Land ranted about the amount of commercials that interjected into the action.
As did Bologna Burger.
UPDATE 12:00 PM EST:
Fox Sports released additional ratings for non-Cup races. Xfinity race was up 14% over 2022.
A lot of NASCAR’s popular media voices shared their view of the crowds.
Dustin Albino gave a numerical look at the crowd.
Adam Stern looked at the viewership of qualifying.
Other media members found the stars among the sell-out crowd.
While everyone at the track enjoyed the race, social media was overcome with complaints about the broadcast.
While the perception was that commercials dominated the broadcast, GPLapsJake analyzes the numbers. The facts show that ads were actually less disruptive in 2023 than when Fox picked up NASCAR TV rights in 2001.
So, what’s the difference that causes the current perception? Many have postulated that the source of consternation comes from the timing of the commercial breaks, the increased in-race ad reads and promotion, and the fact that in 2001, Fox would cut ad breaks to rejoin racing action.
Regardless of the amount of ads or why fans found the broadcast off-putting, NASCAR media and fans on social media have made it clear; Fox has to fix what they’re doing.
Phill Allaway of the Frontstretch shared analysis of the broadcast in his column, Couch Potato Tuesday.
The front-loading of commercial breaks early on is apparently a strategy that new FOX NASCAR producer Chuck McDonald is advocating for. McDonald comes to FOX NASCAR from FOX Sports’ college football coverage. There is something to be said about that. Get the commercials done as fast as you can so you don’t miss anything important later on. That is the same strategy that often results in networks trying to fit in as many breaks during cautions as they can. The problem is, you’re not going to miss anything important due to commercial breaks early on in a football game because football games have time for commercial breaks built in (in the stadiums, they’re typically referred to as official timeouts). NASCAR is not like that, even with stages.
Phil also discussed the bad timing of the commercial break as Reddick’s “Big One” happened.
Anyone who was watching the race likely noticed that things were getting quite rambunctious at the time. It looked like they were going to wreck at any moment. Had they waited a little bit for things to calm down just a little (perhaps a lap or so), maybe this wouldn’t have happened and we wouldn’t be having this conversation today. They could have paid off the side-by-side break elsewhere.
In recent years, the broadcast has felt like it is being produced by someone who doesn’t understand the racing that fans enjoy. As Phil points out, when Austin Dillon wrecked in overtime, play by play man Mike Joy had to direct the production’s attention to the wreck. “While Joy is experienced in the booth and can do that, he shouldn’t have to.”
NASCAR fans – or fans of any sport – find themselves divided on most issues. While some look for the best and brightest points of the sport, others consistently seek the negative takes. Either way, the collective of fans want what’s best for the sport.
While fans can be split on who deserved to win or how NASCAR could be better, everyone in the industry can take pride that the sport has passionate fans. Fans so passionate that even at a young age, their only wish is to be in attendance for the Great American Race.
iRacing has finally given NASCAR fans a first look at the in-game model of the NASCAR Ram Truck slated to join the racing sim’s lineup in the near future.
Though iRacing says the Ram model is still pending approvals, this announcement marks a major milestone for Ram in its 2026 return to NASCAR, as this is the first appearance the brand will make in motorsports gaming in well over a decade.
Of course, the next major question facing Ram will be its inclusion in iRacing’s next edition of their console-based NASCAR game series, which most expect to be titled NASCAR 26.
iRacing was open about its use of models from its self-titled subscription-based online racing service for NASCAR 25. But, as of press time, they have yet to announce any details about the next game, although it’s fair for players to assume the Ram model used for iRacing will likely be used in the next NASCAR console game.
The NASCAR news for iRacing Season 2 didn’t stop at Ram, as iRacing also confirmed that the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, a new addition to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule in 2026, will join its track list during Season 2.
iRacing also confirmed tweaks to the in-game physics of both the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, focused on updating the series’ in-game drafting model.
But the biggest news of all (beyond Ram, of course) is that iRacing plans to have NASCAR’s San Diego Street Circuit at Naval Base Coronado ready for play before the end of the 2026 season, with the Development Update claiming they are targeting a release date sometime in June.
What do you think about this? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
Former Joe Gibbs Racing Crew Chief and Competition Director Chris Gabehart is claiming in court documents that he was “pressured” to be Ty Gibbs’ Crew Chief for a small portion of the 2025 season. While this partnership didn’t last long, the stats suggest that Gabehart could have been a difference maker for the young driver’s 2025 season.
In just six seasons as a NASCAR Cup Series Crew Chief at Joe Gibbs Racing, Chris Gabehart delivered the team 22 NASCAR Cup Series wins, including back-to-back Daytona 500 wins, all with driver Denny Hamlin.
His time as Crew Chief came to an end last season, when Gabehart was seemingly promoted to Competition Director, which most assumed would be his new long-term post at the team.
Surprisingly, this was not the case, as at year’s end, despite 13 wins, 47 top fives, and 69 top tens for the team’s cars, Gabehart left the team for Spire Motorsports under mysterious circumstances.
While things had seemed odd for Gabehart during his short tenure as Competition Director, including a stretch in which he served as a de facto Crew Chief for Ty Gibbs, it seemed that the transition to a new role at JGR had been a winning move for the team.
This drama came to a head last week, when JGR filed a lawsuit against Gabehart, alleging that the former employee used various methods to steal information, such as car setups to give to his new employer.
Though Gabehart has denied any wrongdoing, he leveled a few allegations of his own against JGR in a court filing Wednesday afternoon.
In his filing, Gabehart accused JGR of misleading him in his new role, saying that he found himself answering to JGR leadership and members of the Gibbs family “when making even routine competition decisions.”
“I was promised a COO-type role overseeing all competitive operations with autonomy to lead. Instead, I found myself constantly intertwined with Coach Gibbs, senior JGR executives, and family members when making even routine competition decisions—a dysfunctional organizational structure that I could not continue in.” — Chris Gabehart.
Nonetheless, the NASCAR community’s major takeaway from this filing was Gabehart’s claims about his time serving as Crew Chief for Joe Gibbs’ grandson Ty Gibbs in 2025.
Gabehart says that Joe Gibbs “repeatedly pressured me to take over as crew chief of the No. 54 car.”
The veteran shot caller claims he finally gave in to these pleas during the summer, taking over for Crew Chief Tyler Allen at the June 28, 2025, race at EchoPark Speedway, before leaving this post after the Regular Season Finale at Daytona, tallying nine total races atop the No. 54’s pit box.
“Despite my objections, Coach Gibbs and ownership continued pressing, and I eventually conceded to the pressure by first helping the No. 54 team more behind the scenes and then, beginning on June 28, 2025, by publicly serving as the crew chief and calling the races on Sundays for nine consecutive races before returning those duties to the original crew chief, Tyler Allen, against the strong desires of ownership, when I made it clear that I did not want to serve as a crew chief for the long term.” — Chris Gabehart.
During this stretch of races, fans could hear Gabehart over Gibbs’ radio during this time, though, at least initially for that first listed date at EchoPark, JGR claimed that he was serving as a race strategist for the No. 54 team, though this could have been the case for this one race.
Nonetheless, despite Gabehart’s claims, the entry lists for that nine-race stretch list Allen as the Crew Chief for the No. 54.
Ultimately, his relationship with the team continued to sour after his time as the No. 54 Crew Chief, with Gabehart alleging that Ty Gibbs was not held to the same standards as other JGR team members, including things such as required meeting attendance.
“I also identified specific examples of the No. 54 team’s differential treatment that undermined my position as Competition Director. For example, key personnel decisions were made without my counsel or input despite my role as Competition Director; and critically the No. 54 driver was not held to the same meeting attendance standards as others on the team.” — Chris Gabehart
While Gibbs did not win races or make the playoffs with Gabehart on the pit box, one could wonder how the team fared during this stretch and whether or not Gabehart gave it his all in what he claims was a high-pressure situation.
What’s Happening? Former Joe Gibbs Racing Crew Chief and Competition Director Chris Gabehart has filed a new response slamming JGR as…
Though Gabehart was never officially listed as the Crew Chief of the No. 54 on NASCAR entry lists, given the timeline supplied in this filing, it’s easy to piece together what races Gabehart alleges he and Gibbs worked together.
Gabehart claims he started this role on June 28, 2025, which was race 18 of the 2025 season at EchoPark Speedway, and stayed in this spot for nine races, which would end his tenure with race 26 of the season at Daytona on August 23, 2025.
Entering that first race at EchoPark, through the first 17 races of 2025, the No. 54 team sat 23rd in points, with just two top fives, three top tens, and an average finish of 19.4.
In the alleged nine-race stretch with Gabehart atop the pit box, Gibbs scored two top-fives and four top tens, winning the inaugural NASCAR In-Season Challenge and improving his average finish to 17.7 (14.3 during Gabehart’s nine races with Gibbs).
So, did Gibbs continue his improved form after Gabehart left his post as Crew Chief?
Well, the easy answer is no, as in the final ten races of the season, after Gabehart left, Gibbs would score just one more top five, three more top tens, and tally an average finish of 18.4.
Putting aside all the drama that has come from Gabehart’s time as JGR Competition Director and part-time Crew Chief for Ty Gibbs, it seems that Joe Gibbs was right to push for this pairing.
Nonetheless, with the alleged pressure for Gabehart to add this job to his list of duties at JGR, and his now well-known feelings about the No. 54 team, it seems this pairing was destined to split up from the start.
Let us know your thoughts on this! Join the discussion on Discord or X, and remember to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for more updates.
The legal fight between Joe Gibbs Racing and former competition director Chris Gabehart just escalated, and now it’s not just about data. In his official response, Gabehart pushed back hard against the restraining order request… and made serious claims about dysfunction surrounding the No. 54 team and its driver, Ty Gibbs.
In his filing, Gabehart denies sharing any trade secrets and says forensic reviews back that up. But the bombshell allegations focus on internal structure, claiming the 54 car was managed directly by ownership and not held to the same standards as other teams. Those comments pull back the curtain on tensions many fans only speculated about, especially after last season’s on-track friction involving teammates like Denny Hamlin. If this heads toward trial, more details could surface. If it settles, we may never get the full picture. Either way, the public back-and-forth has already shifted perception, and how this plays out could impact not just one team, but how authority, accountability, and information are handled across the garage.
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