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Michael Jeffrey Jordan, introducing himself formally in a federal courtroom on Friday, admitted that his drive to win and novelty within the sport motivated his effort with 23XI Racing to confront Nascar over alleged violations of competition laws.

Team Investment and a Competitive Drive

The owner disclosed operational insights of his 23XI team, revealing he invested $40m of his personal wealth into the Cup Series operation co-founded with business partner Curtis Polk and driver Hamlin.

“It fell to someone to act,” Jordan stated in the Charlotte courtroom. “As a newcomer, I wasn’t afraid. I believed I could take on Nascar in its entirety. From my perspective, the sport it needed to be looked at from a different view.”

Central Issue: Charter Agreements and Contract Pressure

At issue is the end of a 2016 deal where Nascar provided each team a “charter”. The concept is similar to other major leagues with independent franchises, like the NBA’s Hornets or the Carolina Panthers. The agreement was set to expire in 2024 when Nascar demanded charter membership renewals.

Jordan was on the witness stand for about sixty minutes and exited the courthouse to pandemonium, with fans and media vying for a view or a photo of the global icon.

Spearheading the Fight

Jordan’s 23XI is leading the full-court press along with Front Row Motorsports for Nascar to overhaul a business 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. Gibbs described a hectic and tense period where the racing circuit told teams they had to sign a contract extension. This agreement spanned over a hundred pages outlining team compensation and a guaranteed entry in every race.

A Refusal to Sign

Jordan explained that his team and its ally decided their only feasible option was to decline to sign that extensive document and litigate the matter. The other 13 organizations agreed to the terms.

Jordan and co-owner Denny Hamlin approached Nascar about potential amendments or negotiations. Nascar wasn’t talking, according to his testimony.

The Bottom Line: Winning

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

“Hamlin persuaded me adding a third car improved our chances to win,” he said, sharing that he purchased another franchise last year for $28 million despite the uncertainty. “So I dove in.”

Account from the Gibbs Family

Heather Gibbs detailed her push for indefinite franchises, which she said a formal letter to Nascar. She said the pressure of the signature deadline was problematic.

According to her, the team founder first attempted to call and talk Nascar out of forcing signatures, but Nascar’s leader refused the appeal.

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