Mark Martin’s rap anthem debuts during ’06 All-Star week

I love Mark Martin. I don’t think anyone who has read my 300 plus blog posts will deny that, but there are some things that very few other people understand about the driver that I have been following for years. One of those things is the fact that the 51-year-old man loves rap music.

I am by no means a fanatic of rap music, but through the years I have found some great songs to listen to by rappers. After all, part of my job with the UC football team means finding songs for highlight tapes to show before games. One of my favorite finds was the song “It’s a Fight” by the Three Six Mafia (played before the 2008 Pittsburgh game which the Bearcats won 28-20).

This offseason I was in the weight room filming the team lift weights, and one of the artists that was heavily played during lifting sessions was Gucci Mane. Guess who loves Gucci Mane? Mark Martin.

Jeff Gluck had an opportunity to sit down and talk to Mark Martin in March (something I wrote about here: http://adamniemeyer.blogspot.com/2010/04/jeff-gluck-provides-awesome-insight-to.html) and they discussed Martin’s love of rap and rappers.

Fact: Mark Martin loves to listen to Gucci Mane (Getty Images)

“It’s a gift,” he told Gluck, mentioning what rappers can do with words. “I guess people say driving cars is a gift. I don’t think anything of it, it’s just something I do.”

Mark Martin also listens to Gucci Mane when he works out. He’s known for being one of the more fit drivers on the circuit, if not the most physically fit guy out there.

So the marriage of rap music and Mark Martin just made sense. In 2006 Mark Martin announced that Roundhouse Multimedia would release “Start Your Engines,” the official Mark Martin rap anthem. “I consider it an honor that there are people in the rap music industry that feel I am deserving of my own rap anthem.” Martin said in 2006. “The song sounds great and I hope all my fans enjoy listening to it as much as I do.”

The lyrics talk of Mark Martin’s accomplishments in the sport. Of course when Budda Early mentions that, “in 2007 Mark Martin gonna chill,” he wasn’t exactly correct, but throughout the song fans of NASCAR find out exactly what Mark Martin has done in the sport.

Mark Martin is, "The only driver with five IROC titles," as the song proclaims (Getty Images)

At the end of the song there’s an audio clip of Mark Martin stating, “You know, I’ve been so blessed,” speaking of fans, other drivers and sponsors that have made him what he is today. Sound familiar to anyone?

Last July I had an opportunity to walk up to Mark and talk to him for two minutes (perhaps you remember: http://adamniemeyer.blogspot.com/2009/07/mark-martin-im-blessed-to-have-so-many.html) and he said the exact same thing to me.

So, maybe in a few more years Gucci Mane will release his own Mark Martin rap anthem. Mark Martin would definitely love to hear it. And I’m sure some of his fans would too. Even the ones who don’t enjoy most rap music.
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Tomorrow I take a look at the seemingly never ending Jeremy Mayfield saga. On Tuesday a ruling was handed out by a federal judge dismissing the former driver’s lawsuit against NASCAR. I’ll compile some thoughts and feelings to the decision and fill everyone in on Thursday. Until then, have a great Wednesday.