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Michael Jeffrey Jordan, as he cordially introduced himself 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 Will to Win

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

“It fell to someone to act,” Jordan said in the Charlotte courtroom. “I was a new person, I had no fear. I believed I could take on Nascar in its entirety. From my perspective, the sport required examination from a different view.”

The Core Dispute: Charter Agreements and Renewal Demands

At issue is the expiration of a 2016 deal where Nascar granted each team a franchise. This system mirrors other professional sports with independent franchises, such as the NBA’s Hornets or the Carolina 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 pandemonium, with onlookers and reporters clamoring for a view or a picture of the global icon.

Spearheading the Fight

23XI Racing is at the forefront of the push along with another racing team for Nascar to change a operating model Jordan said is unlawful to keep two hands on the wheel.

For Jordan and and a fellow team representative, who preceded Jordan, are events from last September. Gibbs described a hectic and tense six hours where the sanctioning body informed teams they must sign a charter agreement extension. The document consists of over a hundred pages outlining team compensation and a guaranteed entry in Nascar-sponsored races.

Choosing Litigation

Jordan explained that 23XI and Front Row Motorsports concluded their only feasible option was to decline to sign that extensive document and take the issue to court. All other teams agreed to the terms.

The team owners approached Nascar about possible changes or extension options. Nascar wasn’t talking, Jordan said.

The Ultimate Motivation: Winning

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

“Hamlin persuaded me getting a third driver boosted our odds of winning,” he testified, noting that he purchased another franchise last year for $28m despite the uncertainty. “So I dove in.”

Heather Gibbs’ Testimony

Heather Gibbs detailed her request for permanent charters, which she said a written letter to Nascar. She said the pressure of the signature deadline didn’t sit well.

According to her, Joe Gibbs first attempted to call and talk Nascar out of forcing signatures, but CEO Jim France 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, I have 20. If I have 30, that’s the number.”