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Michael Jeffrey Jordan, introducing himself formally in a Charlotte court on Friday, admitted that his drive to win and novelty within the sport emboldened his push for 23XI Racing to confront Nascar over perceived violations of competition laws.

Team Investment and a Competitive Drive

The owner disclosed operational insights of his 23XI team, saying he put in $40 million of his own funds into the Cup Series operation launched with partner Polk and driver Hamlin.

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

Central Issue: Charter Agreements 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, like the Charlotte Hornets or the NFL’s Panthers. This deal was set to expire in 2024 when Nascar demanded teams renew their charters.

Jordan testified for an hour and left the court to pandemonium, with fans and media clamoring for a glimpse or a photo 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 business model Jordan contended is breaking the law to keep two hands on the wheel.

At issue for Jordan and a fellow team representative, who preceded Jordan, are events from last September. She recounted a hectic and tense six hours where the sanctioning body informed teams they had to sign a contract extension. This agreement consists of 112 pages detailing pay for chartered teams and a guaranteed spot in Nascar-sponsored races.

A Refusal to Sign

Jordan said that his team and its ally concluded their only feasible option was to decline to sign that extensive document and take the issue to court. The other 13 organizations agreed to the terms.

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

The Ultimate Motivation: Victory

Ultimately, the pushback against what he saw as a unsustainable system was mostly about the usual bottom line for Jordan: Success.

“Hamlin persuaded me adding a third car boosted our odds of winning,” he said, sharing that he purchased another franchise late in 2024 for $28m amid the legal dispute. “So I took the plunge.”

Heather Gibbs’ Testimony

Heather Gibbs detailed her push for indefinite franchises, submitted in a formal letter to Nascar. She said the pressure of the signature deadline was problematic.

According to her, 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. The response was, “Whether I have 20 charters, that’s what I have. If I have 30, that’s the number.”