Rochester Hills, Michigan (Monday, June 12th, 2017): The American Ethanol Late Model Tour and the American Ethanol Modified Tour presented by Allstar Performance will make history on Wednesday, June 14th. For the first time ever, both American Ethanol sponsors tours will race together on the same day and it’s one of the biggest shows of the season; the 3rd annual Merritt Showdown presented by Don’s Auto Clinic. The cars and stars of the premier DIRTcar UMP Late Model tour in the Great Lakes/Midwestern United States will chase after the biggest payday in the tours’ three-year history as $10,000 awaits the winner.

Defending AELMT Champion, Dona Marcoullier, who kicked off the 2017 AELMT season with a victory in the Inaugural NUVU Fuels Dual on Dirt, the 2017 season opener, at I-96 Speedway back on May 26th, comes into the Showdown as the defending race winner. The 32-year-old standout, who lives a mere 10 minutes away from his home track in Houghton Lake Michigan won on Opening Night at Merritt and will take on the likes of five-time and defending Track Champion, Eric Spangler, who also claims Merritt as home and won the inaugural race in 2015. Spangler finished third at I-96 in the AELMT season opener and has won the last two weekly Features at the fast ¼ (0.250) mile semi-banked dirt oval leading into the Showdown. Inaugural AELMT Champion (2015), Rich Neiser has one of his three career AELMT triumphs at Merritt and is looking to rebound from an 11th place finish in the AELMT opener.

Other drivers to watch as the Late Model teams vie for a $10,000 payday include former five-time Eldora Speedway Track Champion, Brian Ruhlman, who finished second in the AELMT season opener. Additionally, Brandon Thirlby was fourth at I-96, is fifth in Merritt track points and already has six Feature Wins at four different tracks. Ryan VanderVeen, who is still in search of his first career AELMT Feature Win already has five Features wins at three different facilities. 2010 DIRTcar UMP Late Model National Champion, Rusty Schlenk will have a say in the outcome of the 50-Lap main as he already has six Feature wins at five different tracks throughout the country. Track regulars looking to keep the $10K in the “Great White North” include reigning Wood-Tic winner, Chad Finley, who is second in track points while 2015 DIRTcar UMP Late Model National Rookie of the Year, Nick Kurtz is eyeing a career defining win in the Showdown.

The 3rd annual Merritt Showdown is also the second race of the 2017 racing season for the American Ethanol Modified Tour presented by Allstar Performance, the premier DIRTcar UMP Modified tour in the Great Lakes/Midwest United States. The second ever AEMODT race and first Merritt Showdown under the AEMODT umbrella sees Three-time and defending track champion, David Mielke won the inaugural race in 2015 and is off to a fast start in 2017 having won the inaugural AEMODT race at Thunderbird Raceway on May 27th. The 25-year-old also won the first two weekly events at Merritt and is the points leader in both AEMODT and at Merritt coming into the $1,500 to win race. Interlochen, Michigan standout, Joe Rokos comes into the event as the defending race winner of the Merritt Showdown and is third in both AEMODT points and Merritt track points.

Spring Lake, Michigan’s Jacob Poel looks to add his name to the list of Merritt Showdown winners after finishing a close second at Thunderbird in the Inaugural AEMODT event. He’ll have to deal with the likes of QuickCar Racing Products Rookie of the Year points leader, Josh Scott, who was very impressive in his first AEMODT start having finished fourth. Collin Thirlby is another driver looking to go to victory lane after nearly doing so at Thunderbird with a daring cushion pounding run with just a few laps to go in the inaugural AEMODT race. Weekly drivers, who are also AEMODT regulars, will also be ones to watch as Paul Johnson and Chad Bauer are second and fourth respectively in track points. Bauer finished sixth at Thunderbird and is looking to breakout at Merritt. Kyle Novak rounds out the top five in weekly points at Merritt and is looking to bounce back after struggling in the AEMODT opener.

There is an optional on Tuesday, June 13th with the Pit Gates opening at 5:00p.m., and Practice going from 6:00-9:00p.m. For Wednesday, June 14th, the Pit Gates open as well as both the AELMT & AEMODT Draws begins at 2:00p.m. Both Draws end at 4:30p.m., with both American Ethanol sponsored tours Drivers Meetings. Hot Laps start at 5:00p.m., with ISKY Racing Cams Qualifying going at 5:40p.m., beginning with the AEMODTS and followed immediately by the AELMT. After Pre-Race Ceremonies, Racing begins at 7:00p.m. In addition to AELMT & AEMODT, the tracks Boyne Machine Four-Cylinders will also be racing for a $1,500 payday. For more information about the 3rd annual Merritt Showdown presented by Don’s Auto Clinic, go the track website at: merrittspeedwaymi.com

To learn more about Motor City Racing Promotions, the event management group for both AELMT & AEMODT, email MCRP President, Scott Menlen at: smenlen@motorcityracing.co or call the MCRP office at: (248) 747-6277. You can also go to the MCRP website at: motorcityracing.co. The Facebook Fan Page for MCRP is at: facebook.com/motorcityracingpromotions and click on “Like” today. Don’t forget to “Follow” MCRP on Twitter at: twitter.com/MCRP_Racing

For more information about the rest of the 2017 racing seasons for both American Ethanol sponsored tours, click on the following links. For the fasting growing dirt late model tour in the country, the AELMT, please visit the website at: aelmt.com For the American Ethanol Modified Tour presented by Allstar Performance, please visit their website at: aemodt.com You can also follow both tours on Facebook by going to: facebook.com/AmericanEthanolLateModelTour and at: facebook.com/AmericanEthanolModifiedTour and click on “Like” for both accounts.

Both tours’ Twitter accounts will be the primary source for race day updates throughout the 2017 racing season. Be sure to go to both accounts today at: twitter.com/AELMT and at: twitter.com/AEMODT and click on “Follow” for both.