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The basketball icon, as he cordially introduced himself in a Charlotte court on Friday, admitted that his competitive side and status as a newcomer motivated his effort with 23XI Racing to confront Nascar over perceived violations of antitrust rules.

Team Investment and a Competitive Drive

The owner disclosed financial and corporate details of his racing venture, saying he invested $40m of his own funds into the Nascar Cup series team co-founded with business partner Curtis Polk and driver Hamlin.

“Someone had to step forward,” Jordan stated during testimony. “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 from a different view.”

Central Issue: Charter Agreements and Contract Pressure

At issue is the expiration of a 2016 deal where Nascar granted each team a franchise. This system mirrors other major leagues with separately owned franchises, such as the Charlotte Hornets or the Carolina Panthers. The agreement was due to end in 2024 when Nascar insisted on charter membership renewals.

Jordan was on the witness stand for about sixty minutes and exited the courthouse to a media frenzy, with fans and media vying for a glimpse or a picture of the sports legend.

Spearheading the Fight

23XI Racing is at the forefront of the push along with another racing team for Nascar to overhaul a business model Jordan contended is breaking the law to maintain excessive control.

For Jordan and and Heather Gibbs, who preceded Jordan, are details from September 2024. Gibbs described a hectic and tense period where the racing circuit informed teams they must sign a contract extension. The document spanned over a hundred pages detailing pay for chartered teams and a guaranteed spot in Nascar-sponsored races.

A Refusal to Sign

Jordan said that his team and its ally concluded their only feasible option was to decline to sign that 112-page package and take the issue to court. All other teams agreed to the terms.

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

The Ultimate Motivation: Victory

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

“Denny convinced me getting a third driver boosted our odds of winning,” he said, noting that he purchased another franchise late in 2024 for $28 million despite the uncertainty. “So I dove in.”

Heather Gibbs’ Testimony

Heather Gibbs detailed her request for permanent charters, which she said a formal letter to Nascar. She said the pressure of the contract signing demand was problematic.

She said, the team founder first tried to call and talk Nascar out of demanding signatures, but CEO Jim France refused the appeal.

“Don’t do this to us,” Heather Gibbs said was the message to Nascar’s leadership. She said France replied, “Whether I have 20 charters, that’s what I have. If there are 30, I have 30.”