Local Heroes vs. NASCAR Xfinity Champion Cole Custer for VT Governor’s Cup Honors

Barre’s Thunder Road International Speedbowl roars back to life this Thursday, June 20 headlined by the 45th Vermont Governor’s Cup presented by the Vermont Lottery! The 150-lap showdown serves as Round #2 in the Squier Cup Triple Crown Series and sets up a battle between the Maplefields/Irving Late Models, several expected American-Canadian Tour invaders and reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Cole Custer along with track championship action for the Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers and rk Miles Street Stocks with a Special 6:30pm Post Time!

While Chip Grenier leads the Maplefields/Irving Oil Late Model King of the Road standings after his first win in over a decade last Thursday night, Cody Blake heads the Squier Cup standings. Utilizing the Plus/Minus handicap system made famous by the American-Canadian Tour, it could be anyone’s game this Thursday night with the blind draw for qualifying position leveling the playing field for everyone, new and returning. On top of the ‘new’ list is NASCAR Xfinity champ Cole Custer, looking to turn his first laps at the Nation’s Site of Excitement and ready to learn quick to fight the notorious highbanks, the infamous Widowmaker frontstretch wall and, of course, his stout competition.

While Grenier, Blake, Jimmy Hebert, Stephen Donahue, and more, are looking to cushion their point standings, there’s also history on the line. 2024 serves up the 45th running of the Vermont Governor’s Cup, first contested by the flathead coupes that put Thunder Road on the map back in 1961. Since then, the event has faced many formats and been contested at both Thunder Road and the revered Catamount Stadium with such icons as Dave Dion, Robbie Crouch, Jean-Paul Cabana, the late Bugsy Stevens and even current Thunder Road managing partner Cris Michaud! Who will be next on the vintage Vermont Governor’s Cup?

Colchester’s Sam Caron is back on top of the Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tiger standings after his hard-fought win over Kevin Streeter last week. Caron leads an ultra-competitive Chris LaForest in second and the tied-for-third duo of Brandon Gray and Streeter in the standings. The Flying Tigers have had a lot of comers and goers in their 40-lap sprints so far this season, and a chance at winning in front of the big Vermont Governor’s Cup crowd is sure to elevate that competition all the more on Thursday.

Milton’s Trevor Jaques continues his best career season atop the rk Miles Street Stock standings with two wins on the season so far. Staring down the barrel in second is 2022 champion Dean Switser, Jr., who has also been on a hot streak and has yet to finish outside the top five! Speaking of career best seasons, both Kasey Collins and 2023 Rookie of the Year Ryan Foster are standing tall in the top-five point chasers so far this season with Foster looking to nab his first rk Miles Street Stock win on Vermont Governor’s Cup night.

The iconic roar of Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl returns on Thursday, June 20 with the 45th Vermont Governor’s Cup 150 presented by the Vermont Lottery! NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Cole Custer joins the Maplefields/Irving Late Models for 150 laps around the Barre highbanks under the Thursday night lights for a chance to join a list of iconic winners! The Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers and the rk Miles Street Stocks will also continue their track championship chases with a Special 6:30pm Post Time! Adult General Admission is set at $20 with kids 12-6 for $5 and children 5 and under free! The Family Four Pack (Two Adults, Two Kids) is also available for $40

For more information, contact the Thunder Road offices at (802) 244-6963, [email protected], or visit www.thunderroadvt.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @ThunderRoadVT.

-Thunder Road Press Release
-Photo credit: Alan Ward