Mark Martin describes origins of friendship with Gucci Mane, feature on hit song 'GOAT'

NASCAR legend Mark Martin gained attention for being featured in the Gucci Mane single “GOAT” last year. While speaking with Chase Holden, Martin explained how he became part of Mane’s hit song.

“I’m a fanboy for Gucci Mane. So Barstool Sports did a thing with me, and they were intrigued about the Gucci Mane thing,” Martin said. “I had a pretty good little rant going on that thing, and that video went everywhere.

“Months later, I get a text message saying (from Barstool Sports), ‘Hey, I don’t it’s going to happen or not, but you may be featured on one of Gucci’s tracks. A little time passed and Gucci actually direct messaged me asking what my email address was. I sent him my email and I got contacted by his recording group and asked if it was okay to use a piece of that on his GOAT track. It’s really cool.”

Martin also shared his reaction to listening to “GOAT” for the first time. “That track goes pretty hard. I like it,” Martin said. “I’m happy to be on it, proud to be on it. Most people don’t know this gray-haired old man talking about Gucci and Datpiff, but it’s all true stuff.”

Mark Martin wants Gucci Mane to attend NASCAR race

Martin added that the Grammy-nominated artist has contacted him since the release of “GOAT”. “He did congratulate me on Twitter when I said something about when I got inducted into the Hall of Fame, but he actually reached out to me on Instagram and directed message me,” Martin explained. “We bounced back and forth for a little bit.”

Mane told Martin he wanted to get him out to a show. “He did one, I believe it was August, a show in Atlanta. It was a black-tie affair at the orchestra and he rapped to orchestra music,” Martin revealed. “He really wanted me to come to that, and he handed me off to a person to facilitate my being a guest for that. Being in Arkansas, it wasn’t really a great time for me, and I wasn’t really sure about it. I didn’t pursue going, but I would love to go sometime. I would love to see him come to a NASCAR race. If he did, I would love to be sort of his guide.”

Mark Martin, 66, won 40 NACAR Cup Series races and earned 453 top-10 finishes. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2017 and named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023.