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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 emboldened his push for 23XI Racing to “challenge” Nascar over perceived violations of competition laws.

Team Investment and a Will to Win

Jordan shared financial and corporate details of his 23XI team, saying he invested $40m of his personal wealth into the Nascar Cup series team co-founded with partner Polk and longtime driver Denny Hamlin.

“It fell to someone to act,” Jordan stated during testimony. “I was a new person, I wasn’t afraid. I believed I could take on Nascar as a whole. From my perspective, the sport it needed to be looked at from a different view.”

The Core Dispute: Charter Agreements and Renewal Demands

At issue is the end of a 2016 deal where Nascar granted each team a “charter”. This system mirrors other professional sports with independent franchises, such as the Charlotte Hornets or the Carolina Panthers. This deal was due to end in 2024 when Nascar insisted on charter membership renewals.

Jordan was on the witness stand for about sixty minutes and left the court to pandemonium, with onlookers and reporters clamoring for a glimpse or a picture of the global icon.

Spearheading the Fight

Jordan’s 23XI is leading the full-court press along with another racing team for Nascar to overhaul a business model Jordan said is unlawful to maintain excessive control.

For Jordan and and a fellow team representative, who testified before Jordan, are events from last September. She recounted a frantic and emotional six hours where the racing circuit informed teams they had to sign a contract extension. This agreement consists of 112 pages outlining pay for chartered teams and a guaranteed spot in every race.

A Refusal to Sign

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

The team owners approached Nascar about potential amendments or extension options. Nascar refused to engage, according to his testimony.

The Bottom Line: Victory

But in the end, the pushback against what he saw as a unsustainable system was driven by the usual bottom line for Jordan: Winning.

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

Heather Gibbs’ Testimony

Gibbs described her request for permanent charters, submitted in a written letter to Nascar. She testified the timing of the contract signing demand was problematic.

She said, 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,” 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.”