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Michael Jeffrey Jordan, as he cordially introduced himself in a federal courtroom on Friday, admitted that his drive to win and novelty within the sport motivated 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 put in $40m of his own funds into the Cup Series operation co-founded with partner Polk and driver Hamlin.

“It fell to someone to act,” Jordan said in the Charlotte courtroom. “As a newcomer, I wasn’t afraid. I felt I could challenge Nascar as a whole. From my perspective, the sport required examination 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 franchise. The concept is similar to other major leagues with separately owned franchises, like the NBA’s Hornets or the Carolina Panthers. The agreement was set to expire in 2024 when Nascar insisted on charter membership renewals.

Jordan was on the witness stand for an hour and left the court to pandemonium, with fans and media clamoring for a glimpse or a picture 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 business model Jordan said is unlawful to maintain excessive control.

At issue for Jordan and a fellow team representative, who testified before Jordan, are details from September 2024. She recounted a hectic and tense period where the racing circuit informed teams they had to sign a charter agreement extension. The document consists of over a hundred pages outlining team compensation and a guaranteed spot in every race.

A Refusal to Sign

Jordan said that 23XI and Front Row Motorsports decided their sole viable path was to refuse a signature that 112-page package and litigate the matter. The other 13 organizations agreed to the terms.

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

The Ultimate Motivation: Victory

But in the end, the pushback against what he saw as a financially unsustainable model was driven by 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 $28 million despite the uncertainty. “So I dove in.”

Account from the Gibbs Family

Gibbs described her push for indefinite franchises, submitted in a formal letter to Nascar. She said the timing of the signature deadline didn’t sit well.

According to her, the team founder first attempted to call and persuade Nascar against demanding signatures, but Nascar’s leader declined the request.

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