The NBA legend Tells Court He ‘Wasn’t Afraid’ of Nascar in Legal Battle

Michael Jeffrey Jordan, introducing himself formally in a federal courtroom on Friday, stated that his drive to win and novelty within the sport emboldened his push for 23XI Racing to confront Nascar over perceived violations of competition laws.

Team Investment and a Competitive Drive

Jordan shared operational insights of his 23XI team, revealing he invested $40m of his own funds into the Nascar Cup series team co-founded with partner Polk and longtime driver Denny 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. From my perspective, the sport it needed to be looked at from a different view.”

Central Issue: Franchise System and Contract Pressure

The heart of the case involves the expiration of a 2016 deal where Nascar granted each team a franchise. This system mirrors other major leagues with independent franchises, such as the Charlotte Hornets or the NFL’s Panthers. The agreement was due to end in 2024 when Nascar demanded teams renew their charters.

Jordan testified for about sixty minutes and left the court to a media frenzy, with fans and media clamoring for a view or a photo of the sports legend.

Spearheading the Fight

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

At issue for Jordan and a fellow team representative, who preceded Jordan, are details from September 2024. Gibbs described a frantic and emotional six hours where the racing circuit told teams they must sign a charter agreement extension. This agreement spanned 112 pages outlining 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 refuse a signature that 112-page package and litigate the matter. All other teams agreed to the terms.

Jordan and co-owner Denny Hamlin approached Nascar about potential amendments or extension options. Nascar refused to engage, according to his testimony.

The Ultimate Motivation: Victory

But in the end, the pushback against what he saw as a unsustainable system was mostly about the familiar goal for Jordan: Winning.

“Denny convinced me getting a third driver improved our chances to win,” he said, sharing that he bought a third charter late in 2024 for $28m amid the legal dispute. “So I dove in.”

Heather Gibbs’ Testimony

Gibbs described her request for permanent charters, which she said a formal letter to Nascar. She said the pressure of the signature deadline was problematic.

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,” Gibbs recounted was the message to Nascar’s executives. She said France replied, “Whether I have 20 charters, that’s what I have. If I have 30, I have 30.”