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The basketball icon, as he cordially introduced himself in a Charlotte court 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 Will to Win

Jordan shared financial and corporate details of his racing venture, revealing he put in $40m of his personal wealth into the Nascar Cup series team co-founded with business partner Curtis Polk and driver Hamlin.

“It fell to someone to act,” Jordan said during testimony. “As a newcomer, I wasn’t afraid. I felt I could challenge Nascar in its entirety. From my perspective, the sport required examination through a new lens.”

The Core Dispute: Franchise System and Contract Pressure

The heart of the case involves the expiration of a 2016 deal where Nascar granted each team a “charter”. This system mirrors other professional sports with independent franchises, like the NBA’s Hornets or the Carolina Panthers. This deal was set to expire in 2024 when Nascar demanded charter membership renewals.

Jordan testified for an hour and exited the courthouse to pandemonium, with onlookers and reporters vying for a glimpse 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 change a business model Jordan said is unlawful to maintain excessive control.

At issue for Jordan and a fellow team representative, who preceded Jordan, are details from last September. She recounted a frantic and emotional six hours where the sanctioning body told teams they must sign a contract extension. This agreement consists of over a hundred pages outlining pay for chartered teams and a guaranteed spot in every race.

Choosing Litigation

Jordan said that 23XI and Front Row Motorsports concluded their only feasible option was to refuse a signature that 112-page package 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 refused to engage, according to his testimony.

The Bottom Line: Victory

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

“Hamlin persuaded me getting a third driver boosted our odds of winning,” he said, sharing that he bought a third charter late in 2024 for $28m despite the uncertainty. “So I dove in.”

Heather Gibbs’ Testimony

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

She said, the team founder first attempted to call and persuade Nascar against demanding signatures, but Nascar’s leader declined the request.

“Don’t do this to us,” Heather Gibbs said Joe Gibbs told Nascar’s leadership. The response was, “Whether I have 20 charters, I have 20. If I have 30, I have 30.”