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

Team Investment and a Competitive Drive

The owner disclosed financial and corporate details of his racing venture, revealing he put in $40 million of his personal wealth into the Nascar Cup series team co-founded with partner Polk and driver Hamlin.

“Someone had to step forward,” Jordan stated in the Charlotte courtroom. “I was a new person, I wasn’t afraid. I believed I could take on Nascar as a whole. From my perspective, the sport it needed to be looked at from a different view.”

The Core Dispute: Charter Agreements and Renewal Demands

At issue is the expiration of a 2016 deal where Nascar granted each team a “charter”. This system mirrors other professional sports with independent franchises, such as the NBA’s Hornets or the Carolina Panthers. The agreement was set to expire in 2024 when Nascar demanded charter membership renewals.

Jordan testified for an hour and exited the courthouse to pandemonium, with fans and media vying for a view or a photo of the sports legend.

Leading the Legal Charge

Jordan’s 23XI is leading the full-court press along with another racing team for Nascar to overhaul a operating model Jordan contended is unlawful to maintain excessive control.

At issue for Jordan and Heather Gibbs, who preceded Jordan, are details from September 2024. She recounted a frantic and emotional six hours where the racing circuit informed teams they must sign a contract extension. The document consists of 112 pages detailing pay for chartered teams and a guaranteed entry in Nascar-sponsored races.

Choosing Litigation

Jordan explained that his team and its ally decided their only feasible option was to decline to sign that 112-page package and litigate the matter. All other teams agreed to the terms.

The team owners reached out to Nascar about potential amendments or extension options. Nascar wasn’t talking, according to his testimony.

The Ultimate Motivation: Winning

But in the end, the resistance against what he saw as a unsustainable system was mostly about the familiar goal for Jordan: Success.

“Hamlin persuaded me adding a third car boosted our odds of winning,” he testified, sharing that he bought a third charter late in 2024 for $28 million despite the uncertainty. “So I dove in.”

Heather Gibbs’ Testimony

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

According to her, Joe Gibbs first tried to call and persuade Nascar against forcing signatures, but CEO Jim France declined the request.

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