The ongoing legal battle between Joe Gibbs Racing, Spire Motorsports, and Chris Gabehart has taken another turn, with a hearing now scheduled to address the counterclaims filed against JGR. Renowned NASCAR journalist Bob Pockrass reported on X that the heading on whether to dismiss those counterclaims is set for August 26.
Earlier this year, JGR filed its $8 million lawsuit against its former competition director Chris Gabehart after he left the team to join Spire as its chief motorsports officer. The team accused Gabehart of taking confidential team information and violating his obligations to the organization after leaving for a leadership position with Spire. The case has since expanded to include claims and counterclaims from all sides.
Bob Pockrass on Thursday reported that a court date has been set to dismiss counterclaims filed by Spire and Gabehart and coach Joe Gibbs’ team.
One of the counterclaims at the center of the upcoming hearing comes from Gabehart, who alleges that JGR did not pay him everything he was owed. Spire Motorsports has also filed counterclaims against JGR, with the team alleging that Coach Joe Gibbs’ team failed to reciprocate an arrangement involving car chief Cheddar Smith.
“A hearing on whether to dismiss counterclaims Chris Gabehart and Spire filed against JGR is set for Aug. 26. Gabehart claims include JGR didn’t pay him everything he’s owed, Spire claims JGR never reciprocated what it promised when Spire let car chief Cheddar Smith to go to 54.” Pockrass wrote.
JGR previously withdrew one of the allegations against Spire and Chris Gabehart
JGR has withdrawn its explosive allegations that its former employee Chris Gabehart is running or deeply involved in Spire’s competition strategy and decisions.
Last month, JGR released a statement noting that JGR withdraws their claim and acknowledged in a court filing that it “does not possess nonprivileged information sufficient to support the allegations.”
In the filing, the JGR said:
“In discovery Spire Motorsports II, LLC (“Spire”) requested information supporting the allegations contained in paragraph 129 of the Second Amended Complaint. JGR responded to Spire’s request and concedes that it does not possess nonprivileged information sufficient to support the allegations contained in paragraph 129 of the Second Amended Complaint.”
The case is now moving toward a larger trial after legal teams have failed to reach an out-of-court settlement. U.S. District Judge Susan C. Rodriguez has scheduled a 9-day jury trial for the lawsuit to begin on February 1, 2027, right before the Daytona 500.
Edited by Yash Soni
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