Inside the Packed Courtroom Jordan Takes the Stand, Says Challenging NASCAR Was a Necessary Step
Michael Jordan stepped into yet another high-stakes arena Friday, this time as a key witness in a federal antitrust trial targeting NASCAR’s business practices.
The retired NBA icon is suing the stock-car series alongside Front Row Motorsports, arguing that NASCAR’s control over team charters amounts to monopolistic behavior that stifles fair competition. Jordan told jurors he felt compelled to challenge the system, saying, “Someone had to step forward and challenge the entity. I felt I could challenge NASCAR as a whole.”
Jordan, now 62, is best known for six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls, but in recent years he’s carved out a space in NASCAR as co-owner of 23XI Racing with three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin.
The courtroom was packed as Jordan arrived in a dark blue suit, adjusted the witness chair for his 6-foot-6 frame, and took the stand. Judge Kenneth Bell even joked about the sudden spike in attendance, telling the room, “I take it Mr. Jordan is the next witness.”
Jordan described growing up a NASCAR fan, recalling family trips to Charlotte, Rockingham, Darlington, and Talladega when he was just 11 or 12. “We called it a weekend vacation,” he said. He offered a few lighthearted moments too, mentioning his early admiration for Richard Petty and, later, Cale Yarborough, teasing Hamlin by calling Yarborough “the original No. 11.”
When asked to outline his NBA career, he even made fun of his own late-career stint with the Washington Wizards, saying, “I try to forget it but I did.”
Outside the courthouse, crowds gathered hoping to catch a glimpse of him. One woman screamed praise about his NBA legacy; another asked for a photo, claiming she knew people he golfed and played cards with. Jordan, noticing the cold, told the crowd, “Man, it’s cold out here for you guys,” and offered a compliment to two young fans wearing Nike hoodies.
Across the street, a spectator held a sign reading “NASCAR Your Fans Deserve Better.” Hamlin saw it and replied, “You’re right” on his way to a waiting SUV.
Inside, Jordan focused on the economic concerns driving the lawsuit. He argued that NASCAR’s current charter system, which guarantees teams revenue and race access but remains controlled entirely by the series, leaves teams without long-term financial security. The plaintiffs want those charters made permanent.
“Look, we saw the economics wasn’t really beneficial to the teams,” Jordan testified. “The thing I see in NASCAR that I think is absent is a shared responsibility of growth as well as loss.”
As the day wound down, defense attorney Lawrence Buterman acknowledged the novelty of cross-examining one of the most famous athletes on the planet, telling Jordan, “Thank you for making my 9-year-old think I’m cool today.”
Jordan didn’t miss a beat, responding, “You’re not wearing any Jordans today.” When he was finally excused from the stand, he let out a “whew” and returned to the front-row seat he’s occupied all week.
