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The basketball icon, introducing himself formally in a Charlotte court on Friday, stated that his drive to win and status as a newcomer motivated his push for 23XI Racing to confront Nascar over alleged violations of competition laws.

Team Investment and a Competitive Drive

The owner disclosed operational insights of his 23XI team, saying he invested $40 million of his own funds into the Nascar Cup series team launched with partner Polk and longtime driver Denny Hamlin.

“It fell to someone to act,” Jordan stated during testimony. “As a newcomer, I had no fear. I believed I could take on Nascar in its entirety. I felt as far as the sport required examination from a different view.”

The Core Dispute: Franchise System and Contract Pressure

At issue is the expiration of a 2016 agreement where Nascar provided each team a “charter”. The concept is similar to other major leagues with separately owned franchises, such as the NBA’s Hornets or the Carolina Panthers. This deal was set to expire in 2024 when Nascar demanded teams renew their charters.

Jordan testified for an hour and exited the courthouse to a media frenzy, with onlookers and reporters clamoring for a view or a picture of the global icon.

Spearheading the Fight

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

For Jordan and and a fellow team representative, who testified before Jordan, are details from September 2024. She recounted a hectic and tense period where the racing circuit told teams they had to sign a contract extension. The document spanned 112 pages detailing team compensation and a guaranteed entry in Nascar-sponsored races.

A Refusal to Sign

Jordan explained that 23XI and Front Row Motorsports concluded their sole viable path was to refuse a signature that extensive document and take the issue to court. The other 13 organizations signed the agreement.

The team owners reached out to Nascar about possible changes or negotiations. 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: Winning.

“Denny convinced me getting a third driver boosted our odds of winning,” he said, noting that he purchased another franchise last year for $28 million amid the legal dispute. “So I took the plunge.”

Heather Gibbs’ Testimony

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

According to her, Joe Gibbs first attempted to call and persuade Nascar against demanding 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, “Whether I have 20 charters, I have 20. If there are 30, I have 30.”