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The basketball icon, as he cordially introduced himself in a federal courtroom on Friday, admitted that his drive to win and status as a newcomer emboldened his push for 23XI Racing to confront Nascar over alleged violations of competition laws.

Team Investment and a Competitive Drive

Jordan shared operational insights of his 23XI team, revealing he invested $40 million of his personal wealth into the Cup Series operation launched with business partner Curtis Polk and longtime driver Denny Hamlin.

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

Central Issue: Charter Agreements 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, like the NBA’s Hornets or the Carolina Panthers. This deal was due to end in 2024 when Nascar demanded teams renew their charters.

Jordan testified for an hour and exited the courthouse to a media frenzy, with onlookers and reporters vying for a view or a picture of the sports legend.

Leading the Legal Charge

23XI Racing is leading the full-court press along with another racing team for Nascar to change a operating model Jordan said is breaking the law to keep two hands on the wheel.

For Jordan and and a fellow team representative, who testified before Jordan, are events from September 2024. She recounted a hectic and tense six hours where the sanctioning body told teams they must sign a contract extension. The document consists of 112 pages outlining team compensation and a guaranteed spot in Nascar-sponsored races.

A Refusal to Sign

Jordan explained that his team and its ally concluded their sole viable path was to refuse a signature that 112-page package and litigate the matter. The other 13 organizations signed the agreement.

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

The Bottom Line: Victory

Ultimately, the resistance against what he saw as a unsustainable system was mostly about the familiar goal for Jordan: Success.

“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.”

Heather Gibbs’ Testimony

Heather Gibbs detailed her request for permanent charters, submitted in a formal letter to Nascar. She said the timing of the contract signing demand didn’t sit well.

She said, the team founder first tried to call and talk Nascar out of demanding signatures, but CEO Jim France refused the appeal.

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