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The basketball icon, introducing himself formally in a Charlotte court on Friday, stated that his drive to win and status as a newcomer emboldened his push for 23XI Racing to confront Nascar over alleged violations of antitrust rules.

Team Investment and a Will to Win

Jordan shared financial and corporate details of his 23XI team, saying he invested $40m of his own funds into the Cup Series operation co-founded with business partner Curtis Polk and longtime driver Denny Hamlin.

“It fell to someone to act,” Jordan stated during testimony. “As a newcomer, I wasn’t afraid. I believed I could take on Nascar as a whole. I felt as far as the sport it needed to be looked at from a different view.”

Central Issue: Charter Agreements and Contract Pressure

At issue is the expiration of a 2016 agreement where Nascar granted each team a franchise. This system mirrors other professional sports with independent franchises, like the Charlotte Hornets or the Carolina Panthers. The agreement was due to end in 2024 when Nascar demanded charter membership renewals.

Jordan testified for about sixty minutes and left the court to a media frenzy, with fans and media vying for a view or a picture of the global icon.

Leading the Legal Charge

Jordan’s 23XI is leading the full-court press along with another racing team for Nascar to change a business model Jordan contended is breaking the law to maintain excessive control.

For Jordan and and a fellow team representative, who testified before Jordan, are events from last September. Gibbs described a frantic and emotional six hours where the sanctioning body told teams they must sign a contract extension. This agreement spanned over a hundred pages outlining team compensation and a guaranteed entry in every race.

A Refusal to Sign

Jordan said that 23XI and Front Row Motorsports decided their only feasible option was to refuse a signature that 112-page package and take the issue to court. The other 13 organizations agreed to the terms.

The team owners reached out to Nascar about possible changes or negotiations. Nascar refused to engage, according to his testimony.

The Bottom Line: Victory

Ultimately, the pushback against what he saw as a unsustainable system was mostly about the familiar goal for Jordan: Success.

“Denny convinced me adding a third car improved our chances to win,” he said, sharing that he purchased another franchise late in 2024 for $28 million despite the uncertainty. “So I took the plunge.”

Heather Gibbs’ Testimony

Heather Gibbs detailed her push for indefinite franchises, which she said a written letter to Nascar. She said the timing of the contract signing demand didn’t sit well.

According to her, Joe Gibbs first tried to call and talk Nascar out of forcing signatures, but CEO Jim France refused the appeal.

“Don’t do this to us,” Heather Gibbs said was the message to Nascar’s executives. The response was, “Whether I have 20 charters, I have 20. If there are 30, that’s the number.”