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The basketball icon, as he cordially introduced himself in a Charlotte court on Friday, stated that his drive to win and novelty within the sport emboldened his effort with 23XI Racing to confront Nascar over alleged violations of competition laws.

Team Investment and a Competitive Drive

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

“It fell to someone to act,” 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 required examination from a different view.”

Central Issue: Charter Agreements and Contract Pressure

At issue is the end of a 2016 agreement where Nascar provided each team a “charter”. This system mirrors other major leagues with independent franchises, such as the NBA’s Hornets or the NFL’s Panthers. The agreement was set to expire in 2024 when Nascar insisted on teams renew their charters.

Jordan testified for an hour and left the court to pandemonium, with onlookers and reporters vying for a view or a picture of the sports legend.

Spearheading the Fight

23XI Racing is leading the full-court press along with Front Row Motorsports for Nascar to change a operating model Jordan said is unlawful to keep two hands on the wheel.

For Jordan and and a fellow team representative, who preceded Jordan, are events from September 2024. Gibbs described a hectic and tense period where the racing circuit informed teams they had to sign a charter agreement extension. The document spanned 112 pages outlining pay for chartered teams and a guaranteed entry 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 signed the agreement.

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

The Ultimate Motivation: Winning

Ultimately, the resistance against what he saw as a unsustainable system was driven by the usual bottom line for Jordan: Winning.

“Hamlin persuaded me adding a third car improved our chances to win,” he testified, sharing that he purchased another franchise last year for $28 million despite the uncertainty. “So I dove in.”

Heather Gibbs’ Testimony

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

She said, Joe Gibbs first tried to call and persuade Nascar against forcing signatures, but Nascar’s leader declined the request.

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