Joe Gibbs Racing is asking that Spire Motorsports and its former competition director Chris Gabehart be found in contempt of court, claiming the two violated a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction issued by a federal judge in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The hearing on JGR’s contempt motion is scheduled for Tuesday in Charlotte.
JGR claims Gabehart’s role and compensation structure as Spire’s chief motorsports officer are inconsistent with the hands-off role the team says Gabehart occupies when it comes to its NASCAR Cup teams.
JGR contends Spire didn’t investigate anything, cure anything, or monitor anything until months of violations had occurred. That’s why JGR is asking the court:
Find Gabehart and Spire in civil contempt for violating the temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction.
Order coercive relief including sworn compliance certifications.
Prohibit Gabehart from attending Cup competition meetings.
Award JGR its attorneys’ fees and costs.
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Chris Gabehart.
In the motion, JGR claims Gabehart provided the same or similar Cup Series competition services to Spire that he did at JGR by:
Communicating with Spire’s competition director on February 14 and receiving pit-stall diagrams for the Daytona 500.
Being in Spire’s war room beside its technical director on February 15 and telling team co-owner Jeff Dickerson he had “observations” about the race.
Discussing items during the February 23 Atlanta debrief.
Revealing information about JGR to Michael McDowell’s crew chief Travis Peterson at Circuit of the Americas on March 1. Creating the CG Master from JGR’s CC audit, filling it with Spire race data. Metadata shows it being modified on March 5, days after the temporary restraining order was issued.
Receiving a text from Spire driver Carson Hocevar on March 28 that asked him for handling feedback for a race the next day. Gabehart told Hocevar to stop texting him for help with his performance for the next day’s race.
Attending five to 12 Cup competition meetings until late May or early June.
Making recommendations to Spire technical director Dax Gerringer during the April 20 Kansas post-race meeting.
Retaining JGR material, including race setups, on an undisclosed personal OneDrive until at least June 2026.
JGR contends Spire:
Confiscated Gabehart’s laptop only after it was included in the lawsuit.
Cut off Gabehart’s company email only after he continued to be included on Cup Series competitive communications. JGR says Gabehart has admitted he’s still receiving Spire email on his personal Gmail account.
Pulled Gabehart from Cup meetings after he repeatedly attended and offered commentary.
Placed Gabehart on administrative leave only after JGR filed the contempt motion.
A North Carolina native, Deb Williams is an award-winning motorsports journalist who is in her fourth decade covering auto racing. In addition to covering the sport for United Press International, she has written motorsports articles for several newspapers, magazines and websites including espnW.com, USA Today, and The Charlotte Observer. Her awards include the American Motorsports Media Award of Excellence, two-time National Motorsports Press Association writer of the year, and two-time recipient of the Russ Catlin award. She also has won an award in the North Carolina Press Association’s sports feature category. During her career, Deb has been managing editor of GT Motorsports magazine and was with Winston Cup Scene and NASCAR Winston Cup Scene for 18 years, serving as the publication’s editor for 10 years. In 2024 she was inducted into the NMPA Hall of Fame.