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Michael Jeffrey Jordan, introducing himself formally in a Charlotte court on Friday, admitted that his competitive side and status as a newcomer motivated his push for 23XI Racing to “challenge” Nascar over alleged violations of competition laws.

Team Investment and a Will to Win

Jordan shared operational insights of his 23XI team, revealing he invested $40 million of his own funds into the Nascar Cup series team launched with business partner Curtis Polk and driver Hamlin.

“It fell to someone to act,” Jordan stated in the Charlotte courtroom. “As a newcomer, I had no fear. I felt I could challenge Nascar in its entirety. 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 expiration of a 2016 deal where Nascar granted each team a “charter”. The concept is similar to other major leagues with separately owned franchises, like the NBA’s Hornets or the NFL’s Panthers. This deal was set to expire in 2024 when Nascar demanded charter membership renewals.

Jordan testified for an hour and exited the courthouse to pandemonium, with fans and media clamoring for a view or a photo of the sports legend.

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.

At issue for Jordan and a fellow team representative, who preceded Jordan, are events from September 2024. She recounted a frantic and emotional period where the racing circuit told teams they must sign a contract extension. The document consists of over a hundred pages detailing pay for chartered teams and a guaranteed entry in every race.

A Refusal to Sign

Jordan said that his team and its ally decided their sole viable path was to decline to sign that extensive document and take the issue to court. The other 13 organizations agreed to the terms.

The team owners approached Nascar about possible changes or extension options. Nascar wasn’t talking, Jordan said.

The Bottom Line: Victory

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

“Denny convinced me getting a third driver boosted our odds of winning,” he testified, sharing that he purchased another franchise last year 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 testified the timing of the contract signing demand was problematic.

According to her, the team founder first attempted to call and talk Nascar out of forcing signatures, but Nascar’s leader declined the request.

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