The NBA legend Tells Court He Felt No Fear of Nascar in Antitrust Trial

The basketball icon, introducing himself formally in a federal courtroom on Friday, admitted that his competitive side and novelty within the sport motivated his push for 23XI Racing to “challenge” Nascar over alleged violations of competition laws.

Team Investment and a Competitive Drive

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

“Someone had to step forward,” Jordan said in the Charlotte courtroom. “I was a new person, I wasn’t afraid. I believed I could take on Nascar in its entirety. I felt as far as the sport required examination through a new lens.”

Central Issue: Charter Agreements and Contract Pressure

The heart of the case involves the end of a 2016 agreement where Nascar granted each team a “charter”. The concept is similar to other major leagues with separately owned franchises, such as the Charlotte Hornets or the Carolina Panthers. This deal was due to end in 2024 when Nascar demanded teams renew their charters.

Jordan was on the witness stand for about sixty minutes and left the court to pandemonium, with fans and media clamoring for a view 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 overhaul a business model Jordan said is unlawful to keep two hands on the wheel.

At issue for Jordan and Heather Gibbs, who preceded Jordan, are details from last September. Gibbs described a hectic and tense six hours where the sanctioning body informed teams they must sign a contract extension. This agreement consists of over a hundred pages outlining team compensation and a guaranteed spot in Nascar-sponsored races.

Choosing Litigation

Jordan explained that 23XI and Front Row Motorsports decided their sole viable path was to decline to sign that extensive document and litigate the matter. The other 13 organizations signed the agreement.

Jordan and co-owner Denny Hamlin approached Nascar about potential amendments or negotiations. Nascar refused to engage, Jordan said.

The Bottom Line: Winning

Ultimately, the pushback against what he saw as a unsustainable system was driven by the usual bottom line for Jordan: Winning.

“Denny convinced me adding a third car boosted our odds of winning,” he testified, noting that he bought a third charter late in 2024 for $28 million despite the uncertainty. “So I took the plunge.”

Heather Gibbs’ Testimony

Gibbs described her push for indefinite franchises, submitted in a formal letter to Nascar. She testified the pressure of the signature deadline didn’t sit well.

She said, the team founder first attempted to call and talk Nascar out of demanding signatures, but Nascar’s leader declined the request.

“Please don’t force this on us,” Gibbs recounted Joe Gibbs told Nascar’s executives. The response was, “If I wake up and I have 20 charters, I have 20. If I have 30, that’s the number.”