Sports · Motorsport · 5 hrs ago
Joe Gibbs Racing pays Spire $108,087 to settle one dispute
Joe Gibbs Racing paid Spire Motorsports $108,087.67 over an agreement concerning car chief Cheddar Smith.
Smith joined JGR’s No.
54 car, driven by Ty Gibbs, after Spire agreed to release him from his contract in 2025.
Spire said JGR had to provide an equivalent employee or pay $100,000, and alleged it had not received either.
JGR says it paid the amount, including interest, to end that dispute, but still disputes that the agreement was made.
JGR has asked the court to dismiss Spire’s counterclaims, arguing there is nothing left for Spire to recover; the court has not yet ruled on that request.
A separate case over alleged trade-secret misuse remains contested, after JGR accused former competition director Chris Gabehart of taking confidential information to Spire, which Gabehart and Spire deny.
A trial in that case is scheduled to begin on February 1.
Joe Gibbs Racing paid Spire Motorsports $108,087.67 to settle one dispute over car chief Cheddar Smith.
The payment consists of $100,000 plus $8,087.67 in legal interest, according to a JGR declaration.
JGR disputes that the parties formed an agreement but says it paid to avoid further dispute.
Spire had said it released Smith from his contract in exchange for an equal-level JGR employee or $100,000.
JGR asked the court to dismiss Spire’s counterclaims, arguing that nothing remains to recover.
A separate dispute over alleged trade-secret misuse remains contested, with a trial scheduled to begin February 1.
- Who
- Joe Gibbs Racing and Spire Motorsports are disputing the matter. Cheddar Smith, a car chief, is at the center of it.
- What
- JGR paid Spire $108,087.67 and asked the court to dismiss the related counterclaims.
- When
- JGR made the payment on November 6, 2026.
- Where
- The dispute is being handled in court. The sources do not name the court’s location.
- Why
- Spire said Smith’s release from his contract was tied to an equal-level JGR employee or a $100,000 payment. JGR says it paid to avoid further dispute.
Joe Gibbs Racing
Spire Motorsports
Payment and agreement
Joe Gibbs Racing
JGR says it paid $100,000 plus interest, while disputing that the parties formed the alleged agreement.
Spire Motorsports
Spire said it agreed to release Smith in exchange for an equal-level JGR employee or $100,000.
Court case
Joe Gibbs Racing
JGR says its payment provides the full relief sought and asks for the counterclaims to be dismissed.
Spire Motorsports
Spire brought counterclaims alleging that JGR did not fulfill its part of the agreement.
Spire said it agreed to release Smith from his contract in exchange for an equal-level JGR employee or a $100,000 payment.
Spire countersued JGR, including over the dispute involving Smith.
JGR’s interest calculation began from the end of the 2025 NASCAR season.
JGR paid Spire $100,000 plus $8,087.67 in legal interest.
A trial in the separate trade-secrets dispute is scheduled to begin.
- Total payment
- $108,087.67
- Base payment
- $100,000
- Legal interest
- $8,087.67
- Interest rate
- 8% simple interest per annum
- Payment date
- November 6, 2026
- Smith’s car
- No. 54, driven by Ty Gibbs
What people are saying
Even though JGR disputes that the parties ever formed a trade agreement for the release of a JGR employee or payment to Spire of $100,000, JGR issues that payment to avoid any further dispute over the issue.
That amount consists of $100,000 plus legal interest of $8,087.67 on that sum from the end of the 2025 NASCAR season on November 2, 2025 through November 6, 2026 calculated at eight percent simple interest per annum for 369 days.