Michael Jeffrey Jordan stunned a federal courtroom in Charlotte on Friday as he personally testified in the antitrust case challenging NASCAR’s charter system. Introducing himself formally, Jordan revealed that his competitive nature and newcomer status in the sport pushed him to confront what he believes are unlawful practices restricting fair competition. The NBA legend disclosed that he invested $40 million of his own money into 23XI Racing, the team he co-founded with Curtis Polk and driver Denny Hamlin, arguing that someone needed to question NASCAR’s long-standing business model.

The dispute centers on the expiration of NASCAR’s 2016 charter agreement, which granted teams guaranteed entry and payment structures similar to franchises in the NBA or NFL. As the agreement approached its 2024 expiration, Jordan and fellow team leaders alleged that NASCAR forced teams into a rushed charter extension under pressure. Testimony from Heather Gibbs, daughter-in-law of Joe Gibbs, detailed what she called a frantic six-hour window in September 2024 during which teams were told they must sign the 112-page document or risk losing their charter rights.

Jordan spent an hour on the stand before exiting to overwhelming media and fan frenzy, underscoring the high stakes of the case. With 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports leading the push for reform, Jordan insisted NASCAR’s current structure violates antitrust law and unfairly consolidates power. As the legal battle intensifies, could this be the moment that forces a seismic shift in how NASCAR teams operate? Visit www.jocomms.com for more news stories.