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The basketball icon, introducing himself formally 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 alleged violations of competition laws.

Financial Stakes and a Will to Win

The owner disclosed financial and corporate details of his 23XI team, revealing he put in $40 million 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 said during testimony. “I was a new person, I had no fear. I felt I could challenge Nascar in its entirety. I felt as far as the sport it needed to be looked at from a different view.”

Central Issue: Charter Agreements and Contract Pressure

The heart of the case involves the end of a 2016 agreement where Nascar provided each team a “charter”. The concept is similar to other professional sports with independent franchises, such as the NBA’s Hornets or the NFL’s Panthers. This deal was due to end in 2024 when Nascar demanded teams renew their charters.

Jordan was on the witness stand for about sixty minutes and exited the courthouse to pandemonium, with fans and media clamoring for a view or a photo of the sports legend.

Spearheading the Fight

23XI Racing is leading the full-court press along with another racing team for Nascar to change a operating model Jordan said is unlawful to maintain excessive control.

For Jordan and and a fellow team representative, who preceded Jordan, are details from last September. She recounted a frantic and emotional period where the racing circuit told teams they had to sign a contract extension. This agreement consists of 112 pages detailing pay for chartered teams and a guaranteed spot in Nascar-sponsored races.

Choosing Litigation

Jordan explained that 23XI and Front Row Motorsports 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.

Jordan and co-owner Denny Hamlin reached out to Nascar about possible changes 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 financially unsustainable model was mostly about the familiar goal for Jordan: Success.

“Hamlin persuaded me getting a third driver improved our chances to win,” he said, noting that he purchased another franchise late in 2024 for $28m amid the legal dispute. “So I dove in.”

Account from the Gibbs Family

Heather Gibbs detailed 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.

She said, the team founder first tried to call and talk Nascar out of forcing signatures, but Nascar’s leader refused the appeal.

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