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Michael Jeffrey Jordan, introducing himself formally in a federal courtroom on Friday, stated that his drive to win and status as a newcomer emboldened his effort with 23XI Racing to “challenge” Nascar over alleged violations of antitrust rules.

Team Investment and a Competitive Drive

The owner disclosed operational insights of his 23XI team, revealing he invested $40m of his personal wealth into the Nascar Cup series team launched 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 believed I could take on Nascar as a whole. I felt as far as the sport it needed to be looked at through a new lens.”

The Core Dispute: Franchise System and Contract Pressure

At issue is the expiration of a 2016 deal where Nascar granted each team a “charter”. This system mirrors other professional sports with independent franchises, such as the Charlotte Hornets or the Carolina Panthers. The agreement was due to end in 2024 when Nascar demanded teams renew their charters.

Jordan was on the witness stand for an hour and exited the courthouse to pandemonium, with onlookers and reporters clamoring for a glimpse or a photo of the global icon.

Leading the Legal Charge

Jordan’s 23XI is at the forefront of the push along with another racing team for Nascar to change a operating model Jordan said is unlawful to maintain excessive control.

For Jordan and and a fellow team representative, who testified before Jordan, are events from last September. She recounted a hectic and tense period where the sanctioning body told teams they must sign a contract extension. The document consists of over a hundred pages outlining team compensation and a guaranteed entry in every race.

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 take the issue to court. All other teams signed the agreement.

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

The Ultimate Motivation: Winning

But in the end, the resistance against what he saw as a unsustainable system was mostly about the usual bottom line for Jordan: Success.

“Denny convinced me getting a third driver boosted our odds of winning,” he said, sharing that he bought a third charter last year for $28 million despite the uncertainty. “So I dove in.”

Heather Gibbs’ Testimony

Gibbs described her push for indefinite franchises, submitted in a formal letter to Nascar. She said the pressure of the signature deadline was problematic.

According to her, the team founder first attempted to call and talk Nascar out of demanding signatures, but CEO Jim France declined the request.

“Please don’t force this on us,” Gibbs recounted was the message to Nascar’s executives. She said France replied, “If I wake up and I have 20 charters, that’s what I have. If I have 30, I have 30.”