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The basketball icon, introducing himself formally in a Charlotte court on Friday, stated that his competitive side and novelty within the sport motivated his effort with 23XI Racing to confront Nascar over alleged violations of antitrust rules.

Financial Stakes and a Will to Win

The owner disclosed operational insights of his racing venture, saying he put in $40m of his personal wealth into the Nascar Cup series team co-founded with business partner Curtis 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 believed I could take on Nascar as a whole. I felt as far as the sport required examination from a different view.”

The Core Dispute: Franchise System and Renewal Demands

The heart of the case involves the end of a 2016 deal where Nascar provided each team a “charter”. This system mirrors other major leagues with separately owned franchises, like the Charlotte Hornets or the Carolina Panthers. The agreement was set to expire in 2024 when Nascar insisted on teams renew their charters.

Jordan was on the witness stand for an hour and left the court to a media frenzy, with fans and media clamoring for a view or a photo 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 contended is breaking the law to keep two hands on the wheel.

For Jordan and and Heather Gibbs, who testified before Jordan, are events from September 2024. Gibbs described a frantic and emotional period where the racing circuit informed teams they had to sign a contract extension. This agreement consists of 112 pages detailing pay for chartered teams and a guaranteed spot in Nascar-sponsored races.

Choosing Litigation

Jordan said that 23XI and Front Row Motorsports concluded their only feasible option was to decline to sign that 112-page package and litigate the matter. The other 13 organizations agreed to the terms.

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

The Ultimate Motivation: Victory

Ultimately, the resistance against what he saw as a unsustainable system was driven by the usual bottom line for Jordan: Success.

“Denny convinced me getting a third driver improved our chances to win,” he said, noting that he purchased another franchise last year for $28m despite the uncertainty. “So I dove in.”

Account from the Gibbs Family

Gibbs described her push for indefinite franchises, which she said a written letter to Nascar. She said the timing of the signature deadline was problematic.

She said, Joe Gibbs first tried to call and talk Nascar out of demanding signatures, but CEO Jim France declined the request.

“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, I have 30.”