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Michael Jeffrey Jordan, as he cordially introduced himself in a Charlotte court on Friday, admitted that his drive to win and status as a newcomer emboldened his effort with 23XI Racing to confront Nascar over perceived violations of antitrust rules.

Team Investment and a Competitive Drive

The owner disclosed financial and corporate details of his racing venture, revealing he invested $40m of his personal wealth into the Nascar Cup series team co-founded with business partner Curtis Polk and longtime driver Denny Hamlin.

“Someone had to step forward,” Jordan said in the Charlotte courtroom. “As a newcomer, 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.”

The Core Dispute: Charter Agreements and Renewal Demands

At issue is the expiration of a 2016 deal where Nascar granted each team a franchise. This system mirrors other major leagues with independent franchises, like the Charlotte Hornets or the Carolina Panthers. The agreement was set to expire in 2024 when Nascar insisted on teams renew their charters.

Jordan testified for an hour and left the court to a media frenzy, with fans and media vying for a glimpse or a picture of the sports legend.

Leading the Legal Charge

23XI Racing is leading the full-court press along with another racing team for Nascar to overhaul a operating model Jordan said is breaking the law to maintain excessive control.

At issue for Jordan and a fellow team representative, who testified before Jordan, are events from last September. Gibbs described a hectic and tense six hours where the racing circuit informed teams they must sign a charter agreement extension. The document spanned 112 pages outlining pay for chartered teams and a guaranteed entry in every race.

Choosing Litigation

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 agreed to the terms.

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

The Ultimate Motivation: Victory

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

“Denny convinced me adding a third car improved our chances to win,” he testified, noting that he bought a third charter late in 2024 for $28m despite the uncertainty. “So I dove in.”

Heather Gibbs’ Testimony

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

According to her, Joe Gibbs first attempted to call and talk Nascar out of demanding signatures, but Nascar’s leader declined the request.

“Don’t do this to us,” Heather Gibbs said Joe Gibbs told Nascar’s leadership. She said France replied, “Whether I have 20 charters, that’s what I have. If I have 30, I have 30.”