Judge Allows Counterclaims to Continue in Joe Gibbs Racing Trade-Secrets Dispute

In a verbal order issued Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Susan Rodriguez upheld the counter-claims lodged by former Joe Gibbs Racing executive Christopher Gabehart and rival Spire Motorsports in a trade-secrets lawsuit. Gibbs Racing had sued Gabehart for allegedly photographing confidential data and planning to deliver it to Spire, then added Spire as a defendant for inducing the breach. Rodriguez rejected the team's bid to dismiss Spire’s suit and permitted the racing team to seek dismissal again in the future.

She struck several of Gabehart’s claims, including those under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and state computer-trespass statutes, but allowed breach-of-contract, wage-hour and declaratory-judgment claims to move forward. The judge questioned the plausibility of Gabehart’s argument that Gibbs Racing overstepped its authority to inspect his accounts. Both parties debated the scope and benefit of non-compete agreements, with Gibbs Racing arguing no tangible benefit to Spire and Spire pointing to a prior exchange involving crew chief Robert "Cheddar" Smith. The trial is scheduled for February 2027.