Joe Gibbs Racing escalates its damages claim to nearly $150 million against Spire Motorsports and crew chief Chris Gabehart, with a federal jury trial set for February 1, 2027, in North Carolina.

The case alleges misuse of proprietary technical data in this season’s NASCAR Cup Series, intensifying the commercial and competitive stakes for both teams.

The increase marks a major shift from earlier figures outlined in JGR’s updated claim, while the team seeks limited deadline extensions without moving the trial date.

JGR argues late-discovered documents require additional time to analyze, yet maintains the trial must proceed on schedule to avoid conflicts with the 2027 season.

Spire opposes changes, claiming JGR withheld key materials, including Toyota Racing Development agreements central to any valuation of alleged trade secrets. Those objections mirror points raised in earlier filings.

Spire further states JGR delivered a definitive trade-secrets list only after fact discovery closed, alongside more than 13,000 previously unproduced documents.

Scheduling friction extends to expert work. JGR proposes tight response windows and a multi-location deposition plan that Spire calls unworkable.

Spire argues the proposed timetable would curtail preparation for dispositive motions and expert-admissibility challenges.

Judge Susan C. Rodriguez holds the February 1, 2027, trial date but resets expert and briefing deadlines to balance fairness with progress.

Expert discovery, including any reopened fact depositions, must conclude by November 2, 2026.

Summary judgment motions are due November 9, with responses by November 23 and replies by December 1.

Any party challenging multiple experts must file a single omnibus motion by November 16, capped at 60 pages, with responses due December 7.

The dispute underscores how NASCAR teams protect data pathways, supplier ties, and competitive engineering advantages under trade-secret law.

JGR’s accusations center on Gabehart, a former JGR crew chief now with Spire, allegedly misusing proprietary information, as outlined in recent arguments.

Spire denies those claims and prepares to contest liability and damages through the remainder of 2026, consistent with its public position.

With the damages escalation confirmed and deadlines fixed, an expert-driven contest now looms that could influence future technical-sharing norms across the Cup grid.

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John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.