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The basketball icon, as he cordially introduced himself in a federal courtroom on Friday, stated that his competitive side 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

The owner disclosed financial and corporate details of his 23XI team, saying he put in $40 million of his personal wealth into the Cup Series operation co-founded with partner Polk and longtime driver Denny Hamlin.

“It fell to someone to act,” Jordan said 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 through a new lens.”

Central Issue: Charter Agreements and Renewal Demands

At issue is the end of a 2016 deal where Nascar provided each team a “charter”. The concept is similar to other professional sports with independent franchises, like the NBA’s Hornets or the NFL’s Panthers. This deal was set to expire in 2024 when Nascar demanded teams renew their charters.

Jordan was on the witness stand for an hour and exited the courthouse to a media frenzy, with onlookers and reporters vying for a glimpse or a photo of the sports legend.

Spearheading the Fight

23XI Racing is at the forefront of the push along with Front Row Motorsports for Nascar to change a operating model Jordan said 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. She recounted a frantic and emotional period where the sanctioning body informed teams they had to sign a contract extension. This agreement consists of over a hundred pages outlining team compensation and a guaranteed spot in Nascar-sponsored races.

Choosing Litigation

Jordan said that his team and its ally decided 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.

The team owners reached out to Nascar about potential amendments or extension options. Nascar refused to engage, Jordan said.

The Bottom Line: Winning

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

“Denny convinced me adding a third car improved our chances to win,” he said, sharing that he bought a third charter late in 2024 for $28 million amid the legal dispute. “So I dove in.”

Account from the Gibbs Family

Gibbs described her push for indefinite franchises, submitted in a formal letter to Nascar. She testified the pressure of the contract signing demand didn’t sit well.

According to her, the team founder first attempted to call and persuade Nascar against forcing signatures, but CEO Jim France refused the appeal.

“Please don’t force this on us,” Gibbs recounted was the message to Nascar’s executives. She said France replied, “If I wake up and I have 20 charters, that’s what I have. If I have 30, I have 30.”