According to former racer Dennis Smith of Sport Tire Services, Dunlop’s grid fitment at the January 20-21, 2001 WSMC race shot up to a record 71 percent, up from 54 percent at the same race last year. Smith said that his sales at the track set a new record for his company at a WSMC club event, by a margin of 33 percent. Smith’s sales were helped by the fact that there was no Michelin sales and service operation at the event. Graves Race Tire Service did not renew its contract with Michelin, bailing out of the deal at the end of 2000. No new Michelin representative has been named yet, although Michelin North America officials are thought to be close to finalizing a deal with three-time World Champion Freddie Spencer, who won his titles on Michelin tires. Spencer is interested in putting together a tire sales operation with racer Dale Kieffer, who has been involved in trackside tire sales for about five years.