Here's the thing, legal battles in the paddock rarely stay small, but this scale is wild. As Motorsport.com reports, the high-stakes lawsuit involving Chris Gabehart has seen Joe Gibbs Racing dramatically escalate its financial demands, now seeking nearly $150 million in damages.
When Joe Gibbs Racing first filed its lawsuit against Chris Gabehart and Spire Motorsports, the initial demand sat at $8 million from each defendant. Now, following nine months of legal proceedings and fact discovery, that figure has ballooned. The massive damages stem from claims of intellectual property misappropriation and the alleged use of that data in Cup Series competition this season.
Despite the ballooning figures, the trial remains on track to begin on February 1. However, Joe Gibbs Racing had recently sought an order from Judge Susan C. Rodriguez and the Western District of North Carolina to delay several pre-trial deadlines, citing a mountain of additional legwork required following documents obtained in the latter stages of discovery.
Spire Motorsports pushed back against the proposed schedule, pointing out that Joe Gibbs Racing only recently produced a final list of allegedly misappropriated trade secrets alongside over 13,000 previously withheld documents. Furthermore, Spire argued that Joe Gibbs Racing has continued to withhold court-ordered documents, including organization contracts with Toyota Racing Development, which allegedly undermines the damages case built on expert opinion.
On Wednesday, Judge Rodriguez partially accommodated both sides while keeping the February 1 trial date locked in. The text-only court order established new deadlines, requiring expert discovery or reopened fact depositions to be completed no later than November 2, 2026. Summary judgment motions are now due on November 9, 2026, with responses due November 23, 2026, and replies by December 1, 2026.
The court also ruled that any party seeking to exclude or limit the testimony of more than one expert witness must submit a single omnibus filing no later than November 16, 2026, capped at 60 pages, with responses due December 7, 2026.
