🔗 Share this article

The basketball icon, 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 alleged violations of competition laws.

Team Investment and a Competitive Drive

Jordan shared operational insights of his 23XI team, saying he put in $40m of his personal wealth into the Nascar Cup series team launched with business partner Curtis Polk and driver Hamlin.

“It fell to someone to act,” Jordan said during testimony. “I was a new person, I wasn’t afraid. I felt I could challenge Nascar as a whole. I felt as far as the sport required examination through a new lens.”

The Core Dispute: Franchise System and Renewal Demands

The heart of the case involves the end of a 2016 deal where Nascar provided each team a franchise. This system mirrors other major leagues with independent franchises, such as the Charlotte Hornets or the Carolina Panthers. This deal was set to expire in 2024 when Nascar demanded charter membership renewals.

Jordan testified for an hour and left the court to pandemonium, with onlookers and reporters vying for a view or a photo of the sports legend.

Spearheading the Fight

Jordan’s 23XI is at the forefront of the push along with Front Row Motorsports for Nascar to overhaul a operating model Jordan said is breaking the law to keep two hands on the wheel.

For Jordan and and a fellow team representative, who preceded Jordan, are details from last September. She recounted a frantic and emotional six hours where the racing circuit told teams they must sign a contract extension. The document spanned 112 pages outlining team compensation and a guaranteed entry in every race.

Choosing Litigation

Jordan said that his team and its ally decided their sole viable path was to refuse a signature that extensive document and litigate the matter. The other 13 organizations signed the agreement.

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

The Bottom Line: Victory

Ultimately, the resistance against what he saw as a unsustainable system was mostly about the usual bottom line for Jordan: Winning.

“Denny convinced me getting a third driver boosted our odds of winning,” he said, noting that he bought a third charter late in 2024 for $28 million amid the legal dispute. “So I took the plunge.”

Account from the Gibbs Family

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

According to her, the team founder first tried to call and talk Nascar out of forcing signatures, but Nascar’s leader declined the request.

“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.”