{
  "id": 8336480,
  "title": "Spire \"will not be bullied\" as they hit back at Joe Gibbs Racing in new statement",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/spire-will-not-be-bullied-as-they-hit-back-at-joe-gibbs-racing-in-new",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-19T00:08:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Motorsport.com",
    "slug": "motorsport-com",
    "url": "https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/spire-will-not-be-bullied-as-they-hit-back-at-joe-gibbs-racing-in-new-statement/10857011/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Spire Motorsports issued a statement in response to Joe Gibbs Racing's (JGR) latest court filing. Earlier this year, JGR sued both Gabehart and Spire, alleging a scheme to steal sensitive information. This week, JGR aims to have its ex-competition director, Chris Gabehart, and Spire held in contempt by the Western District of North Carolina, while also seeking sanctions against Gabehart for deleting non-recoverable text messages relevant to the lawsuit. Spire's statement, credited to co-owner Jeff Dickerson, comes as a response to JGR's repeated motions for a preliminary injunction, with two previous motions already rejected by the court. The statement emphasizes that JGR cannot control other teams' actions or claim ownership of tire pressures, race strategy, or employees. The lawsuit's jury trial is scheduled to begin on Monday, February 1, 2027, with Spire boasting an impressive season to date, including two victories and both Carson Hocevar and Daniel Suarez competing in the 2026 Chase for the championship.",
  "summary": "Spire Motorsports has released a new statement in response to Joe Gibbs Racing’s latest court filing. Earlier this year, JGR sued Gabehart and later Spire, alleging a 'brazen scheme to steal sensitive information' from the organization. This week, JGR is attempting to get the Western District of North Carolina to hold its ex-competition director Chris Gabehart and Spire in contempt, while ...…",
  "key_points": [
    "Spire Motorsports responds to Joe Gibbs Racing's lawsuit",
    "JGR seeks contempt of Chris Gabehart and sanctions for deleting messages",
    "Trial begins February 1, 2027, with Spire's strong season"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Spire Motorsports' defiant statement signals a more assertive approach in its legal dispute with Joe Gibbs Racing, pushing back against allegations and asserting its independence in the competitive landscape.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}