2007 SEMA Show: Top Ten Celebrity Sightings

In Case You Haven’t Heard…

…SEMA and 50 Cent are one in the same: full of swagger, flash, and the best money can buy. From his grand entrance at the Wynn Las Vegas in a customized Pontiac G8 to his guest appearance at the Pirelli booth, all eyes were on Fifty. Look out soon for the MyRide interview with 50 Cent on the SEMA show floor.

The World’s Authority on Chevrolet Tahoes

To quote Matt Leinart, “When I got out of college I bought my first Tahoe; now I feel like I’m collecting them.” Appropriately, Matt drove out on the back lawn of the Wynn Las Vegas piloting his DUB-edition Chevrolet Tahoe. Matt joined DUB magazine’s Myles Kovacs to announce DUB's collaboration with General Motors to develop a variety of exclusive appearance and performance components. 

Leno’s Green Monster

While we applaud Jay Leno for building an environmentally friendly car with some real guts, we ask the mad professor this: how long does one have to smoke the rear tires before the car’s benefits to the environment are completely negligible?

“Magnus like car.” Good Magnus!

You’ll notice Magnus Samuelsson failing to look directly at the camera. Magnus knows that as the world’s strongest man, his gaze alone could shatter a camera lens. At SEMA, the super-Swede bench pressed a Hummer H2, curled a Rolls-Royce Phantom, and ate a 24” chrome rim from the Giovanna exhibit. Bad Magnus, chrome rims are not for eating.

No Junkyard for this Buick

Former Detroit Piston Jerome “Junk Yard Dog” Williams is seen here with his Buick Enclave Urban CEO Edition. The hard work and tenacity that earned the former NBA player his nickname was apparent throughout the vehicle. We personally thought it was the best looking of the three Enclaves brought to SEMA by General Motors. The vehicle was developed by William’s company, Automotive Street Style.

A Perplexed Flex

Funkmaster Flex, DJ extraordinaire, is shown mid-autograph pondering the implications of a Funkmaster Flex-edition of the Ford Flex running on E85 (Flex-Fuel). Not good. The DJ is no stranger to SEMA or the automotive world having started a custom car club (Team Baurtwell), a traveling car show (Funkmaster Flex Celebrity Car Show Tour), and his very own line of driving shoes (Lugz FMF-1 Funkmaster Flex).

Super-Coach, SEMA Fanatic

While most people thought Coach Barry Switzer was at SEMA to promote his partnership with XM Satellite Radio, he explained to us that he was at the convention center keeping an eye on the Pagani Zonda he loaned Pirelli. Okay Barry Switzer didn’t say that, and we're not even sure he really knew he was at a car show, but what a nice guy.

Cadillac’s Unofficial Spokesperson

That’s right, Rich Boy, of "Throw Some D's" fame made an appearance at SEMA on behalf of the purveyors of chrome ridiculousity, Lexani. If you have no idea what we're talking about, do yourself a favor and go watch the "Throw Some D's" music video on YouTube for a spectacular look at what people in Alabama are doing with Cadillacs these days. Rich Boy was also on tap to perform at DUB's SEMA afterparty, so you know the wheel guys are giving him some love.

Two, four, what’s the difference?

Brian Deegan is better known for his two-wheeled, Freestyle Motocross acrobatics, but we don’t blame chrome wheel manufacturer Lexani for bringing him out to SEMA to promote their product. The guy landed a 360-backflip on a motorcycle and has more medals and trophies than a Boy Scout battalion. Talk about street credibility. We also don’t blame Deegan for showing up after seeing the girls at the Lexani booth.

The biggest celebrity of them all...

What would a SEMA celebrity feature be without an automotive celebrity? Danica Patrick was as big a draw as anyone else on this list, and as one of America’s hottest racing stars she should be. The line at the XM Satellite booth reached full capacity as Danica signed autographs for fans. Ironically, of all the Hondas brought to SEMA, hers was probably the fastest. Congrats, Danica.