Overview
- Spire co-owner Jeff Dickerson told the court the team neither sought nor needs Joe Gibbs Racing’s confidential data, noting Gabehart signed a non‑disclosure agreement with Spire.
- Dickerson’s declaration raises a claimed ‘Trade Understanding’ tied to car chief Robert “Cheddar” Smith’s 2025 move to JGR, alleging JGR failed to reciprocate or pay an agreed $100,000.
- The filing asserts a private investigator photographed a December 2025 lunch between Dickerson and Gabehart, which Spire characterized as unusual within NASCAR.
- Earlier this month a judge issued a temporary order that permits Gabehart to work for Spire so long as his duties do not mirror his former competition‑director role at JGR.
- JGR’s lawsuit alleges non‑compete and trade‑secret violations and seeks to block Gabehart’s work, while public reactions included Denny Hamlin cautioning that such cases can end harshly.