Joe Gibbs Racing pays Spire $100,000 over Cheddar Smith dispute

Joe Gibbs Racing has paid Spire Motorsports $100,000 plus interest, a move it says resolves one of the counterclaims Spire brought against it. The payment relates to car chief Cheddar Smith, who moved to the No. 54 car with Ty Gibbs. Spire had said it agreed in April 2025 to release Smith from his contract in exchange for an equal-level JGR employee or $100,000.

JGR disputes that a binding trade agreement was ever formed, but says it paid to avoid further argument. In a court filing, the team asked for the counterclaims to be dismissed for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction, arguing there is no longer a live controversy. Chief Commercial Officer Eric Schaffer put the total at $108,087.67, including $8,087.67 of interest.