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Michael Jeffrey Jordan, as he cordially introduced himself in a Charlotte court on Friday, admitted that his competitive side and novelty within the sport motivated his effort with 23XI Racing to confront Nascar over alleged violations of antitrust rules.

Financial Stakes and a Will to Win

The owner disclosed operational insights of his 23XI team, saying he put in $40 million of his personal wealth into the Nascar Cup series team launched with business partner Curtis Polk and longtime driver Denny Hamlin.

“It fell to someone to act,” Jordan said during testimony. “I was a new person, I wasn’t afraid. I believed I could take on Nascar as a whole. I felt as far as the sport required examination from a different view.”

Central Issue: Franchise System and Contract Pressure

At issue is the expiration of a 2016 deal where Nascar provided each team a franchise. The concept is similar to other major leagues with independent franchises, like the NBA’s Hornets or the NFL’s Panthers. The agreement was due to end in 2024 when Nascar demanded teams renew their charters.

Jordan testified for an hour and exited the courthouse to a media frenzy, with fans and media vying for a glimpse or a photo of the sports legend.

Leading the Legal Charge

Jordan’s 23XI is leading the full-court press along with another racing team for Nascar to overhaul a business model Jordan contended is unlawful to keep two hands on the wheel.

For Jordan and and a fellow team representative, who testified before Jordan, are events from September 2024. She recounted a frantic and emotional six hours where the sanctioning body told teams they must sign a charter agreement extension. The document consists of 112 pages outlining pay for chartered teams and a guaranteed entry in Nascar-sponsored races.

A Refusal to Sign

Jordan explained that 23XI and Front Row Motorsports decided their only feasible option was to refuse a signature that extensive document 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, Jordan said.

The Bottom Line: Winning

Ultimately, the resistance 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 improved our chances to win,” he said, sharing that he purchased another franchise late in 2024 for $28m despite the uncertainty. “So I dove in.”

Account from the Gibbs Family

Gibbs described her request for permanent charters, submitted in 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 talk Nascar out of demanding signatures, but CEO Jim France refused the appeal.

“Please don’t force this on us,” Heather Gibbs said 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.”