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The basketball icon, as he cordially introduced himself in a federal courtroom on Friday, stated that his drive to win and novelty within the sport emboldened his push for 23XI Racing to “challenge” Nascar over alleged violations of competition laws.

Team Investment and a Competitive Drive

Jordan shared operational insights of his 23XI team, revealing he invested $40m of his own funds into the Nascar Cup series team launched with partner Polk and driver Hamlin.

“Someone had to step forward,” Jordan said during testimony. “As a newcomer, I wasn’t afraid. I felt I could challenge Nascar in its entirety. I felt as far as the sport required examination through a new lens.”

Central Issue: Franchise System and Renewal Demands

The heart of the case involves the end of a 2016 deal where Nascar granted each team a “charter”. The concept is similar to other major leagues with independent franchises, like the Charlotte Hornets or the Carolina Panthers. This deal was set to expire in 2024 when Nascar insisted on teams renew their charters.

Jordan was on the witness stand for an hour and exited the courthouse to pandemonium, with fans and media vying for a glimpse or a picture of the global icon.

Spearheading the Fight

Jordan’s 23XI is leading the full-court press along with Front Row Motorsports for Nascar to overhaul a business model Jordan said is breaking the law to maintain excessive control.

At issue for Jordan and a fellow team representative, who preceded Jordan, are details from September 2024. Gibbs described a frantic and emotional six hours where the racing circuit told teams they must sign a charter agreement extension. This agreement consists of over a hundred pages detailing team compensation and a guaranteed spot in Nascar-sponsored races.

A Refusal to Sign

Jordan said that his team and its ally decided their sole viable path was to decline to sign that 112-page package and take the issue to court. All other teams signed the agreement.

The team owners approached Nascar about potential amendments or extension options. Nascar wasn’t talking, according to his testimony.

The Ultimate Motivation: Winning

But in the end, the resistance against what he saw as a unsustainable system was mostly about the familiar goal for Jordan: Winning.

“Denny convinced me getting a third driver improved our chances to win,” he said, sharing that he bought a third charter late in 2024 for $28m despite the uncertainty. “So I took the plunge.”

Heather Gibbs’ Testimony

Heather Gibbs detailed her push for indefinite franchises, which she said a formal letter to Nascar. She said the pressure of the contract signing demand didn’t sit well.

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

“Please don’t force this on us,” Heather Gibbs said Joe Gibbs told Nascar’s executives. The response was, “If I wake up and I have 20 charters, that’s what I have. If I have 30, I have 30.”