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

The basketball icon, as he cordially introduced himself in a Charlotte court on Friday, stated that his competitive side and novelty within the sport motivated his effort with 23XI Racing to “challenge” Nascar over alleged violations of antitrust rules.

Financial Stakes and a Will to Win

Jordan shared financial and corporate details of his 23XI team, revealing he invested $40 million of his own funds into the Cup Series operation co-founded with business partner Curtis Polk and driver Hamlin.

“It fell to someone to act,” Jordan said during testimony. “I was a new person, I had no fear. I felt I could challenge Nascar as a whole. From my perspective, the sport it needed to be looked at from a different view.”

The Core Dispute: Franchise System and Contract Pressure

At issue is the end of a 2016 agreement where Nascar granted each team a franchise. This system mirrors other major leagues with separately owned franchises, like the Charlotte Hornets or the NFL’s Panthers. This deal was due to end in 2024 when Nascar demanded charter membership renewals.

Jordan testified for an hour and left the court to a media frenzy, with fans and media vying for a glimpse or a picture of the sports legend.

Spearheading the Fight

Jordan’s 23XI 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 Heather Gibbs, who testified before Jordan, are details from September 2024. She recounted a hectic and tense period where the sanctioning body informed teams they had to sign a charter agreement extension. This agreement consists of 112 pages outlining team compensation and a guaranteed entry in every race.

A Refusal to Sign

Jordan said that 23XI and Front Row Motorsports decided their sole viable path was to decline to sign that extensive document and take the issue to court. All other teams signed the agreement.

The team owners approached Nascar about potential amendments or extension options. Nascar wasn’t talking, according to his testimony.

The Bottom Line: Winning

But in the end, the pushback against what he saw as a financially unsustainable model 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 purchased another franchise late in 2024 for $28m despite the uncertainty. “So I dove in.”

Account from the Gibbs Family

Heather Gibbs detailed her request for permanent charters, which she said a written letter to Nascar. She testified the pressure of the signature deadline was problematic.

She said, Joe Gibbs first attempted to call and persuade Nascar against forcing signatures, but Nascar’s leader declined the request.

“Please don’t force this on us,” Gibbs recounted Joe Gibbs told Nascar’s leadership. The response was, “Whether I have 20 charters, that’s what I have. If there are 30, that’s the number.”