CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Michael Jordan and NASCAR chairman Jim France stood side-by-side on the steps of a federal courthouse as if they were old friends following a stunning settlement Thursday of a bruising antitrust case in which the Basketball Hall of Famer was the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit accusing the top racing series in the United States of being a monopolistic bully.

NASCAR has reached a settlement with Michael Jordan and the other plaintiffs in an federal antitrust case with the trial in its ninth day.

On Day 8 of the trial, France explained his reasoning for resisting permanent charters to teams as the plaintiffs wrapped up their case.

Michael Jordan and Jim France stood opposed for over a year. On Thursday, they were united, "moving forward instead of moving separately."

Finishing his testimony under cross-examination, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France said he wasn’t comfortable agreeing to permanent charters because he didn’t know what the future of the sport would look like.

France, the final witness called by Kessler — who represents Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, the two teams who refused to sign the latest charter deal that is at the heart of this dispute and instead decided to sue NASCAR and France — was set up to give crucial testimony in a trial that had been building to this moment.

NASCAR Chairman Jim France remained steadfast in his refusal to change NASCAR's Charter Agreement, and team owner Richard Childress testied in the NASCAR Trial on Dec. 9.

NBA legend Michael Jordan and NASCAR star Denny Hamlin, co-owners of 23XI Racing, celebrated after settling their lawsuit with NASCAR on Thursday, Dec. 11 following an eight-day trial.

NASCAR chairman and CEO Jim France was called as the final witness for the plaintiffs, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, in the antitrust lawsuit the teams filed against France and the sport he owns and operates.