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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 effort with 23XI Racing to confront Nascar over alleged violations of competition laws.

Financial Stakes and a Competitive Drive

Jordan shared operational insights of his racing venture, saying he invested $40m of his own funds into the Nascar Cup series team co-founded with partner Polk and driver Hamlin.

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

The Core Dispute: Charter Agreements and Renewal Demands

At issue is the end of a 2016 deal where Nascar provided each team a “charter”. This system mirrors other major leagues with separately owned franchises, like the Charlotte Hornets or the NFL’s Panthers. The agreement was set to expire in 2024 when Nascar demanded charter membership renewals.

Jordan testified for an hour and exited the courthouse to pandemonium, with fans and media clamoring 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 another racing team for Nascar to change a operating model Jordan said is unlawful to keep two hands on the wheel.

At issue for Jordan and a fellow team representative, who testified before Jordan, are events from September 2024. Gibbs described a frantic and emotional six hours where the racing circuit informed teams they must sign a contract extension. This agreement consists of over a hundred pages outlining team compensation and a guaranteed entry in Nascar-sponsored races.

A Refusal to Sign

Jordan said that his team and its ally decided their only feasible option was to decline to sign that extensive document and take the issue to court. All other teams signed the agreement.

Jordan and co-owner Denny Hamlin reached out to Nascar about potential amendments or negotiations. Nascar refused to engage, according to his testimony.

The Ultimate Motivation: Winning

But in the end, the resistance against what he saw as a unsustainable system was driven by the familiar goal for Jordan: Success.

“Hamlin persuaded me adding a third car improved our chances to win,” he testified, sharing that he purchased another franchise late in 2024 for $28 million despite the uncertainty. “So I took the plunge.”

Account from the Gibbs Family

Heather Gibbs detailed her request for permanent charters, submitted in a written letter to Nascar. She testified the timing of the contract signing demand was problematic.

According to her, Joe Gibbs first tried to call and persuade Nascar against forcing signatures, but CEO Jim France declined the request.

“Please don’t force this on us,” Gibbs recounted was the message to Nascar’s leadership. The response was, “Whether I have 20 charters, that’s what I have. If there are 30, that’s the number.”