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The basketball icon, introducing himself formally in a Charlotte court on Friday, admitted that his competitive side and status as a newcomer motivated his push for 23XI Racing to “challenge” Nascar over alleged violations of competition laws.

Team Investment and a Competitive Drive

The owner disclosed operational insights of his racing venture, revealing he invested $40m of his own funds into the Cup Series operation launched with business partner Curtis Polk and longtime driver Denny Hamlin.

“Someone had to step forward,” Jordan stated during testimony. “I was a new person, I wasn’t afraid. I felt I could challenge Nascar as a whole. 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 end of a 2016 agreement 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 NFL’s Panthers. The agreement was due to end in 2024 when Nascar demanded charter membership renewals.

Jordan testified for an hour and exited the courthouse to a media frenzy, with onlookers and reporters vying for a glimpse or a picture 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 contended is unlawful to maintain excessive control.

At issue for Jordan and Heather Gibbs, who testified before Jordan, are details from September 2024. She recounted a hectic and tense period where the sanctioning body told teams they had to sign a charter agreement extension. The document consists of over a hundred pages detailing pay for chartered teams and a guaranteed entry in every race.

Choosing Litigation

Jordan explained that his team and its ally decided their only feasible option was to decline to sign that extensive document and litigate the matter. All other teams signed the agreement.

The team owners approached Nascar about potential amendments or negotiations. Nascar refused to engage, Jordan said.

The Ultimate Motivation: Victory

But in the end, the resistance against what he saw as a financially unsustainable model was mostly about the usual bottom line for Jordan: Winning.

“Denny convinced me getting a third driver improved our chances to win,” he testified, noting that he bought a third charter last year for $28 million despite the uncertainty. “So I dove in.”

Account from the Gibbs Family

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

She said, the team founder first tried to call and talk Nascar out of forcing signatures, but Nascar’s leader refused the appeal.

“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, that’s what I have. If there are 30, I have 30.”