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

Team Investment and a Will to Win

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

“It fell to someone to act,” Jordan stated during testimony. “As a newcomer, I had no fear. I believed I could take on Nascar in its entirety. I felt as far as the sport required examination from a different view.”

Central Issue: Charter Agreements and Contract Pressure

At issue is the expiration of a 2016 deal where Nascar provided 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 set to expire in 2024 when Nascar insisted on charter membership renewals.

Jordan was on the witness stand for an hour and exited the courthouse to a media frenzy, with fans and media vying for a view or a picture of the sports legend.

Leading the Legal Charge

23XI Racing is leading the full-court press along with another racing team for Nascar to overhaul a business model Jordan said is unlawful to maintain excessive control.

For Jordan and and a fellow team representative, who preceded Jordan, are details from last September. She recounted a hectic and tense period where the racing circuit told teams they had to sign a contract extension. This agreement spanned 112 pages outlining pay for chartered teams and a guaranteed spot in every race.

Choosing Litigation

Jordan said that his team and its ally decided their only feasible option was to decline to sign that extensive document and take the issue to court. The other 13 organizations signed the agreement.

The team owners approached Nascar about possible changes or negotiations. Nascar wasn’t talking, Jordan said.

The Bottom Line: Victory

Ultimately, the pushback against what he saw as a unsustainable system was driven by the familiar goal for Jordan: Winning.

“Hamlin persuaded me adding a third car boosted our odds of winning,” he testified, noting that he purchased another franchise late in 2024 for $28m despite the uncertainty. “So I took the plunge.”

Heather Gibbs’ Testimony

Gibbs described her request for permanent charters, which she said a written letter to Nascar. She testified the timing of the contract signing demand was problematic.

According to her, the team founder first tried to call and persuade Nascar against demanding signatures, but Nascar’s leader refused the appeal.

“Please don’t force this on us,” Gibbs recounted Joe Gibbs told Nascar’s executives. She said France replied, “Whether I have 20 charters, that’s what I have. If there are 30, that’s the number.”