The NBA legend Tells Court He ‘Wasn’t Afraid’ of Nascar in Antitrust Trial

Michael Jeffrey Jordan, introducing himself formally in a Charlotte court on Friday, stated that his drive to win and novelty within the sport emboldened his push for 23XI Racing to “challenge” Nascar over perceived violations of antitrust rules.

Financial Stakes and a Competitive Drive

The owner disclosed operational insights of his 23XI team, saying he put in $40 million of his own funds into the Cup Series operation co-founded with partner Polk and longtime driver Denny 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 required examination through a new lens.”

The Core Dispute: Franchise System and Contract Pressure

The heart of the case involves the end of a 2016 agreement where Nascar granted each team a franchise. The concept is similar to other professional sports with independent franchises, such as the Charlotte Hornets or the Carolina Panthers. This deal was due to end in 2024 when Nascar insisted on charter membership renewals.

Jordan was on the witness stand for an hour and left the court to pandemonium, with fans and media clamoring for a glimpse or a photo of the sports legend.

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.

At issue for Jordan and a fellow team representative, who testified before Jordan, are details from last September. Gibbs described a hectic and tense six hours where the sanctioning body informed teams they had to sign a charter agreement extension. This agreement spanned over a hundred pages detailing team compensation and a guaranteed spot in Nascar-sponsored races.

A Refusal to Sign

Jordan explained that his team and its ally decided their only feasible option was to decline to sign that 112-page package and take the issue to court. The other 13 organizations agreed to the terms.

Jordan and co-owner Denny Hamlin reached out to Nascar about potential amendments or extension options. Nascar wasn’t talking, according to his testimony.

The Bottom Line: Victory

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

“Hamlin persuaded me adding a third car boosted our odds of winning,” he testified, sharing that he purchased another franchise late in 2024 for $28 million despite the uncertainty. “So I dove in.”

Heather Gibbs’ Testimony

Heather Gibbs detailed her push for indefinite franchises, which she said a written letter to Nascar. She testified the timing of the contract signing demand didn’t sit well.

According to her, Joe Gibbs first tried to call and persuade Nascar against demanding signatures, but CEO Jim France refused the appeal.

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