The NBA legend Testifies He Felt No Fear of Nascar in Antitrust Trial
The basketball icon, as he cordially introduced himself in a federal courtroom on Friday, stated that his drive to win and novelty within the sport motivated his push for 23XI Racing to confront Nascar over alleged violations of competition laws.
Team Investment and a Will to Win
The owner disclosed financial and corporate details of his racing venture, revealing he invested $40 million of his own funds into the Nascar Cup series team launched with partner 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 as a whole. From my perspective, the sport it needed to be looked at 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 granted each team a “charter”. The concept is similar to other major leagues with separately owned franchises, such as the Charlotte Hornets or the NFL’s Panthers. The agreement was set to expire in 2024 when Nascar insisted on teams renew their charters.
Jordan testified for about sixty minutes and exited the courthouse to pandemonium, with fans and media clamoring for a glimpse or a photo 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 operating model Jordan said is breaking the law to keep two hands on the wheel.
For Jordan and and a fellow team representative, who testified before Jordan, are events from September 2024. She recounted a frantic and emotional six hours where the racing circuit told teams they must sign a contract extension. This agreement consists of over a hundred pages outlining pay for chartered teams and a guaranteed spot in every race.
Choosing Litigation
Jordan said 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.
The team owners reached out to Nascar about possible changes or negotiations. Nascar refused to engage, Jordan said.
The Ultimate Motivation: Victory
But in the end, the resistance against what he saw as a financially unsustainable model was driven by the usual bottom line for Jordan: Winning.
“Denny convinced me getting a third driver improved our chances to win,” he said, noting that he purchased another franchise last year for $28 million amid the legal dispute. “So I took the plunge.”
Heather Gibbs’ Testimony
Heather Gibbs detailed her request for permanent charters, which she said a formal letter to Nascar. She testified the timing of the signature deadline was problematic.
She said, the team founder first tried to call and talk Nascar out of demanding signatures, but Nascar’s leader refused the appeal.
“Please don’t force this on us,” Heather Gibbs said Joe Gibbs told Nascar’s executives. She said France replied, “Whether I have 20 charters, that’s what I have. If I have 30, that’s the number.”