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

Team Investment and a Competitive Drive

Jordan shared financial and corporate details of his racing venture, saying he put in $40m of his personal wealth 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 wasn’t afraid. I believed I could take on Nascar as a whole. From my perspective, the sport it needed to be looked at from a different view.”

Central Issue: Charter Agreements and Renewal Demands

At issue is the end of a 2016 agreement where Nascar provided each team a franchise. 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 demanded charter membership renewals.

Jordan testified for about sixty minutes and exited the courthouse to pandemonium, with fans and media clamoring for a glimpse or a photo of the global icon.

Leading the Legal Charge

23XI Racing is at the forefront of the push along with another racing team for Nascar to overhaul a business model Jordan contended is unlawful to keep two hands on the wheel.

At issue for Jordan and Heather Gibbs, who testified before Jordan, are details from last September. Gibbs described a hectic and tense period where the racing circuit told teams they had to sign a charter agreement extension. This agreement spanned 112 pages detailing pay for chartered teams and a guaranteed entry in Nascar-sponsored races.

Choosing Litigation

Jordan said that his team and its ally decided their sole viable path was to decline to sign that extensive document and litigate the matter. The other 13 organizations agreed to the terms.

The team owners reached out to Nascar about possible changes or extension options. Nascar refused to engage, according to his testimony.

The Bottom Line: Victory

But in the end, the pushback against what he saw as a financially unsustainable model was driven by the usual bottom line for Jordan: Winning.

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

Heather Gibbs’ Testimony

Heather Gibbs detailed her push for indefinite franchises, which she said a written letter to Nascar. She testified the timing of the contract signing demand was problematic.

She said, the team founder first tried to call and persuade Nascar against forcing signatures, but CEO Jim France 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, I have 20. If I have 30, I have 30.”