Michael Jeffrey Jordan, as he cordially introduced himself to the federal courtroom in Charlotte on Friday, admitted it was his competitive side and novelty within the sport that emboldened a push for 23XI Racing to “challenge” NASCAR over what he perceived were violations of antitrust rules.

Jordan shared financial and corporate details of his 23XI team and said he invested $40 million of his own funds in the success of the NASCAR Cup series team launched along with business partner Curtis Polk and longtime driver Denny Hamlin.

“Someone had to step forward,” Jordan said Friday in the Charlotte, N.C., courtroom. “I was a new person, I wasn’t afraid. I felt I could challenge NASCAR as a whole. I felt as far as the sport, it needed to be looked at from a different view.”

At issue is the e

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