Court Drops First Ruling in Joe Gibbs Racing’s Lawsuit Against Chris Gabehart
What’s Happening? A North Carolina judge says that Chris Gabehart can continue in his new role at Spire Motorsports. However, the…
In a new response from Spire Motorports, co-owner Jeff Dickerson is questioning the latest batch of photos taken by Joe Gibbs Racing of Spire employee Chris Gabehart in attendance at this past weekend’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Photos have often found themselves at the center of attention in the lawsuit between Joe Gibbs Racing and its former Competition Director, Chris Gabehart.
At first, the photos in question were of Gabehart at a lunch with his current employer, Jeff Dickerson, co-owner of Spire Motorsports. Now, the photos that are the talk of the courtroom are those of Gabehart at this past weekend’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Since the start of this lawsuit in February, JGR has consistently attempted to prevent Gabehart, whom they accuse of leaving the team with sensitive information, from working for Spire.
Nonetheless, Gabehart has continued to work as the team’s Chief Motorsports Officer, with a March 2 ruling by the court mandating he can stay in his position with the team, as long as he does not perform duties similar to those that he supplied to Joe Gibbs Racing.
What’s Happening? A North Carolina judge says that Chris Gabehart can continue in his new role at Spire Motorsports. However, the…
So, with Gabehart in attendance with Spire at Bristol, it’s easy to understand why they were suspicious of his actions at the track this past weekend, with JGR going as far as to accuse him of “actively participating in Spire’s competition operations” in a filing earlier this week.
In response to these allegations and photos, Dickerson has responded, saying that Gabehart, as an executive of the team, should be expected to be at the track during a race weekend: “As an executive, Mr. Gabehart is expected to be present at and to observe Spire’s various racing teams across a wide range of racing.”
Responding to questions about Gabehart’s attendance at Practice and Qualifying for the Food City 500, the response pointed out that practice and qualifying are common events for anyone to attend, somewhat sarcastically saying, “Tickets to attend can actually be purchased by members of the public.”
Dickerson also fired back at current JGR Competition Director Wally Brown for not being in attendance at practice and qualifying, saying:
“Apparently, some Competition Directors themselves do not even attend Practice and Qualifying or entire race weekends. While it is customary to do so, and Spire’s Competition Director does attend every race weekend, it appears that Mr. Brown (who I understand to be the current Competition Director for JGR) chose not to attend Practice and Qualifying for the Food City 500 at all.”
Regarding the pictures of Gabehart at the track, Dickerson said that the pictures do not show him providing similar services to JGR, and instead, listed similar industry members who are at the track supporting their team and not providing technical advice.
The list included several other Spire officials, Hendrick Motorsports President Jeff Andrews, and Hendrick Motorsports Vice Chairman Jeff Gordon.
While these pictures have yet to affect any decision by the court on Gabehart’s status at Spire, they did delay the expiration of a restraining order that kept Gabehart from performing similar duties for Spire.
Ultimately, JGR is attempting to enforce an 18-month non-compete clause in Gabehart’s contract, which would see him out of the team until at least next year if enforced.
A trial date is not yet set for the lawsuit; however, JGR recently requested that it be scheduled after the Cup Series season in mid-November 2026.
What’s Happening? NASCAR fans keeping up with the lawsuit between Joe Gibbs Racing and their former Competition Director, Chris Gabehart, may…
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