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The basketball icon, as he cordially introduced himself in a federal courtroom on Friday, stated that his drive to win and novelty within the sport emboldened his push for 23XI Racing to “challenge” Nascar over perceived violations of competition laws.

Team Investment and a Will to Win

Jordan shared financial and corporate details of his 23XI team, saying he invested $40 million of his own funds into the Nascar Cup series team launched with business partner Curtis Polk and driver Hamlin.

“Someone had to step forward,” Jordan stated in the Charlotte courtroom. “I was a new person, I had no fear. I felt I could challenge Nascar in its entirety. From my perspective, the sport it needed to be looked at through a new lens.”

Central Issue: Charter Agreements and Renewal Demands

At issue is the end of a 2016 agreement where Nascar provided each team a franchise. The concept is similar to other major leagues with independent franchises, like the NBA’s Hornets or the NFL’s Panthers. The agreement 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 picture of the sports legend.

Spearheading the Fight

Jordan’s 23XI is leading the full-court press 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 a fellow team representative, who preceded Jordan, are details from September 2024. Gibbs described a frantic and emotional six hours where the sanctioning body told teams they had to sign a charter agreement extension. The document spanned 112 pages detailing team compensation 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 decline to sign that extensive document and litigate the matter. All other teams agreed to the terms.

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

The Bottom Line: Victory

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

“Hamlin persuaded me getting a third driver improved our chances to win,” he testified, sharing that he purchased another franchise last year 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 said the timing of the contract signing demand was problematic.

She said, the team founder first tried to call and persuade Nascar against forcing signatures, but Nascar’s leader refused the appeal.

“Don’t do this to us,” Gibbs recounted Joe Gibbs told Nascar’s executives. The response was, “Whether I have 20 charters, that’s what I have. If I have 30, I have 30.”