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The basketball icon, as he cordially introduced himself in a Charlotte court on Friday, admitted that his drive to win and status as a newcomer motivated his push for 23XI Racing to confront Nascar over perceived violations of antitrust rules.

Team Investment and a Will to Win

The owner disclosed financial and corporate details of his racing venture, revealing he put in $40 million of his own funds into the Cup Series operation co-founded with business partner Curtis Polk and longtime driver Denny Hamlin.

“Someone had to step forward,” Jordan stated during testimony. “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 it needed to be looked at through a new lens.”

Central Issue: Franchise System and Renewal Demands

The heart of the case involves the end of a 2016 deal where Nascar granted each team a franchise. The concept is similar to other major leagues with independent franchises, like the Charlotte Hornets or the Carolina Panthers. This deal was due to end in 2024 when Nascar demanded charter membership renewals.

Jordan was on the witness stand for about sixty minutes and left the court to a media frenzy, with fans and media clamoring for a glimpse or a photo of the sports legend.

Leading the Legal Charge

23XI Racing is at the forefront of the push along with another racing team for Nascar to change a operating model Jordan said is breaking the law to keep two hands on the wheel.

At issue for Jordan and Heather Gibbs, who testified before Jordan, are events from September 2024. Gibbs described a hectic and tense period where the sanctioning body told teams they must sign a charter agreement extension. The document spanned over a hundred pages detailing pay for chartered teams and a guaranteed entry in Nascar-sponsored races.

A Refusal to Sign

Jordan explained that his team and its ally concluded their sole viable path was to refuse a signature that 112-page package and take the issue to court. All other teams signed the agreement.

Jordan and co-owner Denny Hamlin approached Nascar about possible changes or negotiations. Nascar refused to engage, Jordan said.

The Ultimate Motivation: Victory

But in the end, the pushback against what he saw as a unsustainable system was driven by the usual bottom line for Jordan: Success.

“Hamlin persuaded me adding a third car boosted our odds of winning,” he testified, sharing that he purchased another franchise last year for $28m amid the legal dispute. “So I took the plunge.”

Heather Gibbs’ Testimony

Heather Gibbs detailed her request for permanent charters, submitted in a formal letter to Nascar. She said the pressure of the signature deadline didn’t sit well.

According to her, the team founder first tried to call and talk Nascar out of demanding signatures, but CEO Jim France refused the appeal.

“Please don’t force this on us,” Heather Gibbs said was the message to Nascar’s executives. The response was, “If I wake up and I have 20 charters, that’s what I have. If there are 30, I have 30.”