Chris Gabehart has filed an extensive declaration as a legal battle with Joe Gibbs Racing approaches its first hearing in a Charlotte courthouse.
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Joe Gibbs Racing previously filed requests for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction, which would prevent Gabehart from providing similar services to Spire Motorsports for 18 months. JGR also sought to prevent Spire Motorsports from employing Gabehart "in violation" of a noncompete agremeent.
The declaration covered many allegations from the original JGR lawsuit, which accused Gabehart of stealing confidential information and trade secrets. The former competition director did not deny that he took confidential information. However, he said that he did not send this information to any third parties.
MORE: Full written declaration
"My counsel and JGR's counsel negotiated a mutually acceptable forensic protocol in which I allowed JGR's forensic examiner of choice to image my Google Drive and personal cell phone and to identify and delete any JGR information that JGR contended it was concerned with," Gabehart wrote in the declaration.
He also said that he paid for the examination and that the chosen professional went through a multi-step process. This included comparing the files on his devices against known JGR files and searching for references to sponsors, team names, or equipment.
The forensic examination also included a review of text messages, email attachments, and any evidence of transmission of information.
"The forensic examination was completed," Gabehart added. "The results confirmed what I had maintained from the outset: there is no evidence that I transmitted, distributed, used, or otherwise shared any JGR confidential information.
"No text messages. No email attachments. No dissemination whatsoever. A January 21, 2026 email from the forensic examiner confirmed that he did not locate any text messages or email attachments with the files that JGR had previously identified as being of interest."
The declaration also provided some further details about the split that ultimately led to this lawsuit. Gabehart wrote that he became dissatisfied with certain responsibilities of his position during the 2025 season.
Gabehart said that he provided written notice of this to the team and ultimately had a meeting with team owner Joe Gibbs.
"The Written Notice identified specific job duties and responsibilities assigned to me that were materially inconsistent with my reasonable expectations when I accepted the position of Director of Cup Series Competition and with the job description provided by JGR and Coach Gibbs prior to the Start Date," he wrote.
"I notified JGR that the job was not, at all, as advertised. 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."
As an example of the "dysfunction," Gabehart highlighted the No. 54 car featuring Ty Gibbs as the driver. He said that Coach Gibbs directly managed this car, marking a major change from the other three Cup Series cars.
Gabehart alleged in his declaration that Coach Gibbs "repeatedly pressured" him to be the crew chief of the No. 54 team. He said that he repeatedly objected due to feeling that this was not the right move. Though he ultimately took over as the public-facing crew chief for several races.
The two sides of this legal battle will meet for the first time in court on Friday, Feb. 27, at 1 p.m. ET. This is where they will present their arguments regarding the request for the restraining order and injunctive relief.
This hearing will be crucial for Gabehart, which he wrote in his declaration. He said that the Court granting this injunctive relief would prevent him from working in NASCAR, where he has spent his entire career. He said that it would deprive him of his livelihood.
"The harm in granting injunctive relief as requested by JGR extends beyond my immediate loss of income, which is substantial," Gabehart wrote.
"My professional reputation and career trajectory will suffer significant damage if I am prohibited from working in this field. Opportunities in professional motorsports are fleeting, and the position I have accepted at Spire likely will not be available in the future."
