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The basketball icon, introducing himself formally in a Charlotte court on Friday, admitted that his drive to win and novelty within the sport motivated his effort with 23XI Racing to confront Nascar over perceived violations of competition laws.

Financial Stakes and a Competitive Drive

The owner disclosed financial and corporate details of his 23XI team, saying he put in $40m of his personal wealth into the Cup Series operation co-founded with partner Polk and driver Hamlin.

“It fell to someone to act,” Jordan stated during testimony. “As a newcomer, I wasn’t afraid. I believed I could take on Nascar in its entirety. I felt as far as the sport it needed to be looked at through a new lens.”

Central Issue: Franchise System and Contract Pressure

At issue is the end of a 2016 agreement where Nascar provided each team a “charter”. This system mirrors other professional sports with separately owned franchises, such as the Charlotte Hornets or the NFL’s Panthers. This deal was set to expire in 2024 when Nascar insisted on charter membership renewals.

Jordan testified for an hour and left the court to a media frenzy, with onlookers and reporters vying for a glimpse 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 overhaul a operating model Jordan said is unlawful to keep two hands on the wheel.

For Jordan and and a fellow team representative, who testified before Jordan, are events from last September. Gibbs described a hectic and tense period where the sanctioning body told teams they must sign a contract extension. The document spanned 112 pages outlining 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 112-page package and take the issue to court. All other teams agreed to the terms.

Jordan and co-owner Denny Hamlin reached out to Nascar about potential amendments or extension options. Nascar wasn’t talking, Jordan said.

The Bottom Line: Victory

Ultimately, the resistance against what he saw as a financially unsustainable model was driven by the familiar goal for Jordan: Winning.

“Hamlin persuaded me adding a third car improved our chances to win,” he testified, sharing that he bought a third charter late in 2024 for $28m amid the legal dispute. “So I dove in.”

Account from the Gibbs Family

Gibbs described her request for permanent charters, which she said a written letter to Nascar. She testified the timing of the signature deadline didn’t sit well.

According to her, Joe Gibbs first attempted 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. The response was, “If I wake up and I have 20 charters, that’s what I have. If I have 30, that’s the number.”