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Michael Jeffrey Jordan, introducing himself formally in a federal courtroom on Friday, stated that his competitive side and status as a newcomer motivated his push for 23XI Racing to “challenge” Nascar over perceived violations of antitrust rules.

Financial Stakes and a Competitive Drive

The owner disclosed financial and corporate details of his 23XI team, saying he put in $40m of his own funds into the Nascar Cup series team co-founded with business partner Curtis Polk and driver Hamlin.

“It fell to someone to act,” Jordan stated during testimony. “As a newcomer, I had no fear. I believed I could take on Nascar as a whole. From my perspective, the sport required examination through a new lens.”

The Core Dispute: Franchise System and Renewal Demands

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

Jordan testified for about sixty minutes and exited the courthouse to a media frenzy, with fans and media clamoring for a view or a photo of the global icon.

Leading the Legal Charge

Jordan’s 23XI is leading the full-court press along with another racing team for Nascar to change a business model Jordan contended is breaking the law to maintain excessive control.

For Jordan and and Heather Gibbs, who testified before Jordan, are events from last September. She recounted a hectic and tense period where the sanctioning body informed teams they must sign a charter agreement extension. The document consists of 112 pages outlining team compensation and a guaranteed entry in Nascar-sponsored races.

Choosing Litigation

Jordan explained that his team and its ally concluded their sole viable path was to decline to sign that extensive document and litigate the matter. The other 13 organizations signed the agreement.

Jordan and co-owner Denny Hamlin reached out to Nascar about possible changes or negotiations. Nascar wasn’t talking, according to his testimony.

The Ultimate Motivation: Winning

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

“Hamlin persuaded me getting a third driver improved our chances to win,” he testified, sharing that he purchased another franchise late in 2024 for $28 million amid the legal dispute. “So I took the plunge.”

Account from the Gibbs Family

Heather Gibbs detailed her request for permanent charters, submitted in a written letter to Nascar. She testified the pressure of the signature deadline was problematic.

According to her, the team founder first tried to call and persuade Nascar against forcing signatures, but Nascar’s leader refused the appeal.

“Don’t do this to us,” Heather Gibbs said was the message to Nascar’s executives. She said France replied, “Whether I have 20 charters, I have 20. If I have 30, that’s the number.”