Gibbs files additional evidence with the court in Gabehart lawsuit, showing it hired a PI

Joe Gibbs Racing has filed additional evidence with the Western District of North Carolina in its lawsuit against Chris Gabehart, including the revelation that it hired a private investigator.

The latter came via Ryan Simpson, a North Carolina-licensed PI employed by Barefoot Private Investigations, who submitted a declaration stating that he was contacted by Gibbs to surveil Gabehart. Simpson outlined that on Dec. 2, 2025, he witnessed Gabehart drive to Spire Motorsports, where he picked up co-owner Jeff Dickerson. The two spent time at a local restaurant before Dickerson was dropped back off at the race shop.

The meeting came after Gabehart and Gibbs had agreed to part ways Nov. 6. Initially, the two sides were working on a separation agreement, but Gibbs after learning that Gabehart was going to work for Spire Motorsports, a forensic investigation revealed he had taken photographs of Gibbs’ information and created Spire folders.

Additional declarations were filed by team president Dave Alpern, Gibbs driver Denny Hamlin, Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins, Toyota competition executive Andy Graves, Gibbs competition director Wally Brown and forensic expert Clark Walton. In his seven-page declaration, Hamlin outlined how he worked with Gabehart on his No. 11 team, which gave him “extensive access” to sensitive and proprietary information.

Hamlin (pictured above with Gabehart in 2024) said, “I have reviewed the description of the materials Gabehart apparently retained on his personal cell phone and personal Google Drive account as described in the (forensic expert) Walter Brown declaration. This information represents the crown jewels of our racing operation. … The materials Gabehart took – including car setups, simulation files, post-race analytics, tire management strategies, fuel mileage calculations, and pit crew performance data – represent decades of JGR’s research, development, and innovation specifically designed to optimize speed and win races.

“These materials provide a comprehensive roadmap for JGR’s competitive strategies and are the exact set of proprietary and confidential information any of JGR’s competitors would want in order to understand JGR’s processes, technological capabilities, and payment structures that have led to JGR’s overwhelming success.”

Brown, who assumed the competition director role Dec. 1, 2025, laid out the responsibilities of the job and working alongside Gabehart. He also explained what Gabehart had access to, how involved he was in the day-to-day operations of the organization and being a former crew chief and that, “as a result of that background, Mr. Gabehart was intimately familiar with how setup files are generated, revised, and finalized.”

The additional evidence comes in the form of Gibbs claiming that “it became aware that certain files” have been deleted from Gabehart’s personal Google Drive. It was Walton who observed the deletion of the files Nov. 23, 2025.

“At present, Mr. Walton is aware of at least the following files deleted from Gabehart’s Known Google Drive:

a. “Qual eLap.pdf”;

b. “)Chris Gabehart has shared a file with you”;

c. “Race eLap Cold.pdf”;

d. “25Las2 Post-Race Analytics.pdf”;

e. “Structure_251125_141909.docx”; and

f. “387A0190.tmp”.

The above came through a supplemental memorandum to support Gibbs’s earlier request for expedited discovery. It’s tied to the preliminary injunction request against Gabehart and Spire Motorsports, which will be heard before the court March 16.

Gibbs was granted a limited restraining order against Gabehart on March 2. It does not keep Gabehart from working for Spire Motorsports, but must do so without overlap from his previous role at Gibbs.

Gabehart and Spire Motorsports remain steadfast in their denial of having shared any Gibbs information. Spire, which has an alliance with Hendrick Motorsports, also denies needing or wanting the information.