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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 effort with 23XI Racing to “challenge” Nascar over alleged violations of competition laws.

Team Investment and a Will to Win

Jordan shared financial and corporate details 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.

“Someone had to step forward,” Jordan stated in the Charlotte courtroom. “I was a new person, I had no fear. I felt I could challenge Nascar in its entirety. I felt as far as the sport required examination through a new lens.”

The Core Dispute: Charter Agreements and Renewal Demands

The heart of the case involves the expiration of a 2016 deal where Nascar provided each team a “charter”. The concept is similar to other major leagues with independent franchises, such as the Charlotte Hornets or the Carolina Panthers. The agreement was due to end 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 view or a photo of the global icon.

Leading the Legal Charge

23XI Racing is leading the full-court press along with another racing team for Nascar to change a business 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. She recounted a frantic and emotional six hours where the racing circuit told teams they had to sign a charter agreement extension. This agreement consists of over a hundred pages outlining team compensation and a guaranteed spot in Nascar-sponsored races.

A Refusal to Sign

Jordan said that his team and its ally concluded their sole viable path was to decline to sign that 112-page package and take the issue to court. The other 13 organizations agreed to the terms.

Jordan and co-owner Denny Hamlin approached Nascar about possible changes or negotiations. Nascar wasn’t talking, according to his testimony.

The Bottom Line: Victory

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

“Denny convinced me getting a third driver boosted our odds of winning,” he said, sharing that he bought a third charter late in 2024 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 formal letter to Nascar. She said the timing of the signature deadline was problematic.

According to her, the team founder first tried to call and persuade Nascar against forcing signatures, but Nascar’s leader declined the request.

“Don’t do this to us,” Gibbs recounted was the message to Nascar’s executives. She said France replied, “Whether I have 20 charters, that’s what I have. If I have 30, that’s the number.”