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Michael Jeffrey Jordan, as he cordially introduced himself in a Charlotte court on Friday, stated that his competitive side and status as a newcomer emboldened his push for 23XI Racing to confront Nascar over perceived violations of antitrust rules.

Financial Stakes and a Competitive Drive

The owner disclosed financial and corporate details of his 23XI team, saying he invested $40m of his own funds into the Nascar Cup series team co-founded with partner Polk and longtime driver Denny Hamlin.

“Someone had to step forward,” Jordan stated during testimony. “I was a new person, 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.”

The Core Dispute: Charter Agreements and Renewal Demands

The heart of the case involves the end of a 2016 agreement where Nascar provided each team a franchise. The concept is similar to other major leagues with independent franchises, like the NBA’s Hornets or the NFL’s Panthers. This deal was due to end in 2024 when Nascar insisted on charter membership renewals.

Jordan was on the witness stand for an hour and exited the courthouse to pandemonium, with fans and media vying for a glimpse or a picture of the sports legend.

Leading the Legal Charge

Jordan’s 23XI is at the forefront of the push along with another racing team for Nascar to overhaul a business model Jordan said is unlawful to maintain excessive control.

At issue for Jordan and Heather Gibbs, who testified before Jordan, are events from September 2024. Gibbs described a hectic and tense period where the sanctioning body informed teams they must sign a charter agreement extension. The document consists of over a hundred pages outlining pay for chartered teams and a guaranteed spot in Nascar-sponsored races.

A Refusal to Sign

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 signed the agreement.

Jordan and co-owner Denny Hamlin reached out to Nascar about possible changes or extension options. Nascar refused to engage, according to his testimony.

The Ultimate Motivation: Winning

But in the end, the pushback against what he saw as a unsustainable system was mostly about the usual bottom line for Jordan: Success.

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

Heather Gibbs’ Testimony

Gibbs described her push for indefinite franchises, which she said a written letter to Nascar. She testified the timing of the signature deadline was problematic.

According to her, Joe Gibbs first tried to call and talk Nascar out of demanding signatures, but CEO Jim France declined the request.

“Don’t do this to us,” Gibbs recounted 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.”