NASCAR aware of allegations team engineer stole intellectual property to give to rival team – Auto Racing

Photo: The Canadian Press

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR has acknowledged that it is aware of allegations that an engineer for a Cup Series team accessed proprietary information and shared it with another team.

The stock series has not released any details about the allegations because neither team has filed a complaint with NASCAR. But a series spokesperson confirmed to the Associated Press at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend that he was aware of a brewing scandal between the two teams.

The engineer is under contract with Joe Gibbs Racing, according to executives from six teams who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the details are considered private and have not been publicly disclosed. Joe Gibbs Racing, which still has two cars in contention for the Cup title, declined to comment.

The engineer had been exploring options with other teams as the season drew to a close, several team officials told the AP on Sunday, confirming they had discussed possible employment.

NASCAR acknowledged to AP that it had heard that one team — without a playoff car — paid the engineer cash in exchange for setup information.

Until a lawsuit is filed or a complaint is filed with NASCAR, there is nothing the series can do, raising concerns that employees could hand over intellectual property to rivals without consequences.

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AP Auto Racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing