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The basketball icon, as he cordially introduced himself in a federal courtroom on Friday, stated that his competitive side and novelty within the sport motivated his push for 23XI Racing to “challenge” Nascar over perceived violations of antitrust rules.

Financial Stakes and a Competitive Drive

Jordan shared financial and corporate details of his racing venture, saying he put in $40 million of his own funds into the Nascar Cup series team launched with business partner Curtis Polk and longtime driver Denny Hamlin.

“Someone had to step forward,” Jordan stated in the Charlotte courtroom. “I was a new person, I wasn’t afraid. I felt I could challenge Nascar as a whole. I felt as far as the sport it needed to be looked at through a new lens.”

The Core Dispute: Franchise System and Contract Pressure

At issue is the expiration of a 2016 agreement where Nascar provided each team a franchise. The concept is similar to other major leagues with separately owned franchises, like the NBA’s Hornets or the Carolina Panthers. This deal was due to end in 2024 when Nascar insisted on teams renew their charters.

Jordan was on the witness stand for about sixty minutes and exited the courthouse to pandemonium, with onlookers and reporters vying for a view or a photo of the global icon.

Spearheading the Fight

Jordan’s 23XI is at the forefront of the push along with Front Row Motorsports for Nascar to overhaul a business model Jordan said is breaking the law to keep two hands on the wheel.

At issue for Jordan and a fellow team representative, who preceded Jordan, are events from last September. She recounted a frantic and emotional period where the sanctioning body told teams they had to sign a contract extension. The document spanned over a hundred pages detailing team compensation and a guaranteed spot in every race.

Choosing Litigation

Jordan said that his team and its ally decided their sole viable path was to decline to sign that extensive document and take the issue to court. The other 13 organizations signed the agreement.

Jordan and co-owner Denny Hamlin reached out to Nascar about possible changes or negotiations. Nascar wasn’t talking, according to his testimony.

The Bottom Line: Winning

Ultimately, the pushback against what he saw as a financially unsustainable model was mostly about the usual bottom line for Jordan: Success.

“Denny convinced me getting a third driver boosted our odds of winning,” he said, noting that he bought a third charter late in 2024 for $28 million amid the legal dispute. “So I took the plunge.”

Account from the Gibbs Family

Heather Gibbs detailed 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 attempted to call and talk Nascar out of forcing signatures, but CEO Jim France declined the request.

“Please don’t force this on us,” Gibbs recounted was the message to Nascar’s leadership. The response was, “If I wake up and I have 20 charters, that’s what I have. If I have 30, I have 30.”