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The basketball icon, as he cordially introduced himself in a federal courtroom on Friday, admitted that his drive to win and novelty within the sport emboldened his push for 23XI Racing to confront Nascar over alleged violations of antitrust rules.

Team Investment and a Competitive Drive

The owner disclosed financial and corporate details of his racing venture, saying he put in $40 million of his personal wealth into the Nascar Cup series team co-founded with partner Polk and driver Hamlin.

“It fell to someone to act,” Jordan said in the Charlotte courtroom. “I was a new person, I wasn’t afraid. I felt I could challenge Nascar in its entirety. I felt as far as the sport required examination through a new lens.”

Central Issue: Franchise System and Renewal Demands

The heart of the case involves the expiration of a 2016 agreement where Nascar provided each team a franchise. This system mirrors other professional sports with separately owned franchises, like the Charlotte Hornets or the Carolina Panthers. This deal was set to expire in 2024 when Nascar demanded charter membership renewals.

Jordan was on the witness stand for an hour and exited the courthouse to a media frenzy, with onlookers and reporters clamoring for a glimpse or a picture of the sports legend.

Leading the Legal Charge

Jordan’s 23XI is at the forefront of the push along with Front Row Motorsports for Nascar to change a operating model Jordan said is breaking the law to keep two hands on the wheel.

For Jordan and and a fellow team representative, who testified before Jordan, are events from September 2024. She recounted a frantic and emotional period where the sanctioning body informed teams they must sign a contract extension. This agreement consists of 112 pages detailing team compensation and a guaranteed entry in Nascar-sponsored races.

A Refusal to Sign

Jordan said that his team and its ally concluded their only feasible option was to decline to sign that extensive document and take the issue to court. All other teams agreed to the terms.

Jordan and co-owner Denny Hamlin approached Nascar about potential amendments or extension options. Nascar wasn’t talking, according to his testimony.

The Bottom Line: Winning

But in the end, the pushback against what he saw as a financially unsustainable model was driven by the familiar goal for Jordan: Success.

“Hamlin persuaded me getting a third driver improved our chances to win,” he said, sharing that he purchased another franchise late in 2024 for $28m amid the legal dispute. “So I dove in.”

Heather Gibbs’ Testimony

Gibbs described her request for permanent charters, which she said a formal letter to Nascar. She testified the timing of the contract signing demand didn’t sit well.

She said, Joe Gibbs first tried to call and talk Nascar out of forcing signatures, but Nascar’s leader declined the request.

“Don’t do this to us,” Gibbs recounted was the message to Nascar’s executives. She said France replied, “If I wake up and I have 20 charters, that’s what I have. If I have 30, I have 30.”