Michael Jordan took the witness stand in the NASCAR antitrust trial Friday, Nov. 5.
His appearance lasted about an hour. While it is unlikely to be remembered as the most riveting 60 minutes of the case in federal court, it was at times both amusing and instructive, with Jordan providing some lighthearted moments but serious when addressing issues related to the case.
It was Jordan, the legendary basketball player, along with his co-owners of 23XI Racing and the owner of Front Row Motorsports that sued NASCAR. According to Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports, Jordan said of filing the lawsuit, “As a fan of the sport, it needed to be looked at from a whole different perspective. That’s why we’re here.”
“Look, we saw the economics wasn’t really beneficial to the teams,” Jordan testified, according to the Associated Press. ‘The revenue split was far less than any business I’ve ever been a part of. We didn’t think we’d ever get to what basketball was getting, but we wanted to move in that direction,’ he said
The proceedings on Friday completed the first week of the trial, which is expected to last two weeks, according to the Associated Press.
Jordan cracks joke during testimony
Jordan probably needed no introduction, but that’s not how it works in court.
“My name is Michael Jeffrey Jordan, and I grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina,’ he said by way of introduction, according to The Athletic.
Danielle Williams, an attorney representing 23XI Racing, asked Jordan to run through his career, according to The Athletic, which reported that Jordan mentioned his time with the Chicago Bulls but not his two years with the Washington Wizards.
According to The Athletic, that led to the following exchange:
“Did you play for any other teams?” Williams asked.
“I try to forget, but I did,” Jordan cracked.
Facts, figures and feelings
Jordan owns 60 percent of 23XI Racing and said he has invested approximately $35 to $40 million that includes $28 million for a charter, according to The Athletic. The charter has expired because in 2024 the racing team refused to sign the latest agreement with NASCAR.
Jordan did not suggest he wants to destroy NASCAR.
“The thing I’m hoping for is you create more of a partnership between two entities,” he said, according to The Athletic. “If that’s the case, it becomes a more valuable business. If you can ever compromise on the things that matter, you can grow your business.”
But Jordan addressed the decision to file the lawsuit.
“Someone had to step forward and challenge the entity to understand that it is a real concern from our aspect,” Jordan testified, according to Adam Stern of the Sports Business Journal.
‘Just getting started’
Five years later, the team has three Cup Series cars and has contended with the most successful teams in NASCAR.
The team’s top drivers, Tyler Reddick and Wallace, have won 10 races for 23XI. Reddick has won seven and made the final four of the 2024 playoffs. Both Reddick and Wallace made the playoffs this season but were eliminated in the round of 12.
‘As far as I’m concerned, we’re just getting started,’ Jordan said in October in a statement to USA TODAY Sports.
But with the case looming, 23XI Racing guaranteed its employees pay through 2026 to assuage any concerns.
Jordan’s love for NASCAR
Before he became a basketball star, Jordan was an avid NASCAR fan. According to the Associated Press, Jordan began attending races at 11 or 12 with his family – in their home state of North Carolina but also at the Darlington Raceway in South Carolina and Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.
“We called it a weekend vacation,” Jordan said, according to the Associated Press.
Initially, Jordan said his favorite driver, like his father, was Richard Petty. But eventually he changed allegiances to Cale Yarborough.
“The original No. 11; Sorry, Denny,” Jordan testified as Hamlin watched from the gallery, according to the AP.
Hamlin, Jordan’s co-owner, drives the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. The name 23XI refers to Jordan’s famous jersey number and the Roman numeral for 11, Hamlin’s number.