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.
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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.”
Jeff Gluck of The Athletic wrote that Jordan “spoke of his desire for a “partnership” with NASCAR that would benefit everyone. He said the charter agreement is “not fair and needed to be a better compromise.”
“Look, we saw the economics wasn’t really beneficial to the teams,” Jordan testified, according to the Associated Press, adding, “The thing I see in NASCAR that I think is absent is a shared responsibility of growth as well as loss.”
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The proceedings on Friday completed the first week of the trial, which is expected to last two weeks, according to the Associated Press.
TIMELINE: The full-year saga of 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports suit vs. NASCAR
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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races
(L-R) Charlotte Bobcats President Fred Whitfield and NBA legend Michael Jordan greet Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet, prior to the NASCAR Nextel Open on May 19, 2007 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Michael Jordan signs his autograph on a pair of shoes for Earnhardt.
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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races
(L-R) Charlotte Bobcats President Fred Whitfield and NBA legend Michael Jordan greet Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet, prior to the NASCAR Nextel Open on May 19, 2007 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Michael Jordan signs his autograph on a pair of shoes for Earnhardt.
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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races
Michael Jordan greets fans prior to the start of the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge at Lowe’s Motor Speedway near Charlotte, North Carolina, on May 19, 2007.
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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races
Michael Jordon high-fives the crowd during pre-race ceremonies prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 22, 2010 in Concord, North Carolina.
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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races
NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing, speaks to a crew member in the No. 23 DoorDash Toyota pit area prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 6, 2021 in Sonoma, California.
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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races
NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing, looks on from the 23XI Racing pit box prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Pocono Organics CBD 325 at Pocono Raceway on June 26, 2021 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.
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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races
NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing, looks on from the 23XI Racing pit box during the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on Aug. 8, 2021 in Watkins Glen, New York.
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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races
NASCAR Cup Series 23XI Racing owner Michael Jordan walks pit road with his wife Yvette Prieto during qualifying for the Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 25, 2022 in Nashville.
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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races
NASCAR Cup Series 23XI Racing owner Michael Jordan talks with driver Ty Dillon (42) on pit road during qualifying for the Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 25, 2022.
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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races
NASCAR Cup Series driver Tyler Reddick’s paint job with colors from UNC and sponsor Michael Jordan during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 29, 2023 in Concord, North Carolina.
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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races
Team 23XI Racing owner Michael Jordan looks on from pit road during qualifying before the Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 24, 2023.
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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races
Michael Jordan, NBA Hall of Famer and co-owner of 23XI Racing (R), crew chief Robert Barker (C) and former NFL player Dwight Freeney talk on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 24, 2023 in Lebanon, Tennessee.
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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races
Michael Jordan, NBA Hall of Famer and co-owner of 23XI Racing, speaks to Bubba Wallace, driver of the No. 23 DoorDash Toyota, and Tyler Reddick, driver of the No. 45 Jordan Brand Toyota, on the grid during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 14, 2023 in Las Vegas.
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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races
NASCAR Cup Series Team 23XI owner Michael Jordan watches a video board as NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace (23) races during the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 1, 2024 in Darlington, South Carolina.
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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races
Michael Jordan, NBA Hall of Famer and co-owner of 23XI Racing, looks on during the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 1, 2024 in Darlington, South Carolina.
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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races
The 2024 regular season champion, Tyler Reddick, driver of the No. 45 Upper Deck Toyota, poses with 23XI Racing’s Curtis Polk, Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan after the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 1, 2024 in Darlington, South Carolina.
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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races
Co-owners of 23XI Racing, Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 FedEx One Rate Toyota, and NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan talk on the grid after the NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 6, 2024 in Talladega, Alabama.
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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races
Michael Jordan, NBA Hall of Famer and co-owner of 23XI Racing, walks the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Oct. 27, 2024 in Homestead, Florida.
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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races
Michael Jordan, NBA Hall of Famer and co-owner of 23XI Racing, and Tyler Reddick, driver of the No. 45 The Beast Killer Sunrise Toyota, celebrate after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Oct. 27, 2024 in Homestead, Florida.
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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races
Michael Jordan, NBA Hall of Famer and co-owner of 23XI Racing speaks, to Ryan Blaney, driver of the No. 12 Menards/Richmond Water Heaters Ford, after the NASCAR Cup Series Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Oct. 27, 2024 in Homestead, Florida.
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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races
Michael Jordan, NBA Hall of Famer and co-owner of 23XI Racing, looks on during the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 10, 2024 in Avondale, Arizona.
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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races
23XI Raching team owner Michael Jordan watches Tyler Reddick during the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on April 6, 2025 in Darlington, South Carolina.
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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races
Michael Jordan, NBA Hall of Famer and co-owner of 23XI Racing, looks on during the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Aug. 31, 2025 in Darlington, South Carolina.
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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races
Michael Jordan, NBA Hall of Famer and co-owner of 23XI Racing, listens to the race on pit road during the NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 5, 2025 in Concord, North Carolina.
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.
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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.
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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.
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23XI RACING: Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin still shaking up NASCAR
‘Just getting started’
Jordan, Denny Hamlin and Curtis Polk founded 23XI Racing in 2020. The team began racing the next season in the NASCAR Cup Series with a single car and a single driver, Bubba Wallace.
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.
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“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.
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“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.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michael Jordan takes witness stand, testifies in NASCAR trial