By Jerry Jordan, Editor

As a semi-retired investigative reporter who has also done some undercover work in the legal field, I am not sure what Joe Gibbs Racing expected to accomplish by filing a private investigator’s report detailing his spying on former employee, Chris Gabehart.

Already, the federal lawsuit JGR has filed against Gabehart looks petty (and I don’t mean “The King”). In fact, the words revenge and retaliation come to mind more easily than corporate espionage. And the facts appear to support that analysis.

Gabehart was unhappy. JGR knew it. Gabehart told his superior, Todd Berrier, that Spire was asking if he wanted a job. That was on October 21, 2025. Then, on November 6, 2025, Gabehart met with team owner Joe Gibbs and the decision was made that Gabehart would pack his proverbial tool chest and find a new home.

Except in this case, JGR alleges that instead of taking a spare socket set, Gabehart took its trade secrets and car setup information. It’s just an outsider’s observation but if Gabehart did steal setup information, hopefully, he took it from the cars driven by Denny Hamlin, Chase Brisco and Christopher Bell because the car driven by Ty Gibbs isn’t the pinnacle of success for JGR.

According to JGR’s filings in the federal lawsuit, Gabehart funneled all the stolen information over to Spire. First, this is something that has yet to actually be proven and a third-party forensics expert stated there was no evidence to support JGR’s claims. Even the judge in the case has said, there has been nothing introduced yet that compels her to believe that Gabehart stole JGR’s trade secrets and delivered them to Spire Motorsports – his new employer.

So, what did the private investigator find? It’s shocking, actually.

Gabehart went to a local restaurant with Spire’s Jeff Dickerson on December 2, 2025, and the two ate lunch. They met for less than two hours. That included drive time, where the crime of all crimes occurred – Dickerson rode with Gabehart in his car. According to an X post from Carson Hocevar, the Spire driver is questioned why a private investigator was needed to follow Gabehart and Dickerson for a trip that was within walking distance of the shop.

they needed a PI for this? they could’ve just walked next door. that’s known as “Jeff’s table” pic.twitter.com/iA72zDY6t1

Did the private investigator see Gabehart with a stack of unlabeled manila folders? Umm, no. Were there any clandestine handshakes where Gabehart might have slid Dickerson a thumb drive like a bookie running numbers? No, again. Were they seen chain-smoking cigarettes in an unlit parking garage and covering their mouths with their hands? Nope.

According to the report, Gabehart drove to Spire’s shop, Dickerson came outside, hopped into the car and the two very publicly went to a nearby restaurant.

Here is what the report states in case the above assessment is incorrect: “At 12:02 PM, Spire owner Jeff Dickerson (“Dickerson”) entered Gabehart’s vehicle. Below is a still photograph from video captured of Dickerson entering Gabehart’s vehicle. Gabehart then drove to a nearby restaurant, which they entered at 12:22 PM. From 12:22 PM to 1:47 PM, Gabehart and Dickerson remained together at the restaurant. Below is a still photograph from video captured of Gabehart and Dickerson sitting together at the restaurant. Gabehart and Dickerson departed the restaurant at 1:47 PM and arrived back at Spire’s facility at 2:00 PM. Below is a still photograph from video captured of Dickerson departing Gabehart’s vehicle.”

It’s almost as if someone at JGR is stuck in 1972, believing that hiring a private investigator to shadow a former employee and take grainy videos is a good thing. It isn’t. The best thing JGR can do is withdraw its case because discovery is a double-edged sword – and that blade can cut deep if Gabehart’s attorneys want to dig deep enough. There’s little doubt that JGR has worked very hard to cover up its secrets and sins over the years.