Barre, VT — Thunder Road officials and Stewart-Haas Racing are excited to announce that 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Champion Cole Custer of Ladera Ranch, California is set to make his debut at ‘The Nation’s Site of Excitement’ with the 45th Vermont Governor’s Cup presented by the Vermont Lottery on Thursday, June 20.

Cole Custer climbed the ranks starting at the early age of 4 in Quarter Midgets before moving into K&N East and ARCA as a winning pilot in both series before moving to the Big Three National NASCAR Series. After several successful years in the Craftsman Trucks and Xfinity Series, Custer claimed the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year honors that came with an exciting win at Kentucky Speedway. Custer moved back into the Xfinity ranks last year where he earned six pole awards and three wins en route to his first National Series championship.

Now, fully involved with the defense of his Xfinity Series championship, Custer will pilot a bad-fast Ford Mustang courtesy of Dale Shaw Racecars that will also proudly display Andy’s Frozen Custard, a sponsor of Cole’s in the Xfinity Series! The Andy’s Frozen Custard Ford Mustang will also be crewed by two-time American-Canadian Tour champion, and former Labor Day Classic victor, D.J. Shaw at the Governor’s Cup!

Celebrating its 45 edition in 2024, the Vermont Governor’s Cup has one of the most unique histories in Vermont stock car racing. Once shared between Barre’s Thunder Road Speedbowl and the beloved Catamount Stadium in Milton, the Vermont Governor’s Cup has been contested with everything from the flathead coupes of the early 1960s, the thunderous Tour-type Modifieds, the ACT Pro Stock Tour, the current ACT Late Models and even one year with the fan-favorite Flying Tiger class! Such Northeast icons as Rene Charland and Bugsy Stevens, Dave Dion and Jean-Paul Cabana, the Dragon Brothers and current heavy-weights Scott Dragon, Corliss and Sweet have taken the Governor’s Cup victory over the decades.

“My roots come from small tracks like Thunder Road,” said Custer. “I’m excited for the chance to get behind the wheel of a late model for the Governor’s Cup for my debut. It’s always exciting to head to new racetracks and get more experience outside of NASCAR and the Xfinity Series cars. It’s a new challenge and something different from what we do from weekend to weekend, so it’s fun to be able to drive something different. I’m thankful to everyone involved in this deal, can’t wait to get some laps before New Hampshire!”

The 45th Vermont Governor’s Cup presented by the Vermont Lottery will be hotly contested on Thursday, June 20th with the Maplefield/Irving Late Models taking center stage in Round #2 of their new Triple Crown Series this summer! The Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers and rk Miles Street Stocks will also be on hand to help make it a night to remember at the Nation’s Site of Excitement!

The 65th season opener is fast approaching for the Nation’s Site of Excitement with the annual Car Show and Kenley Dean Extravaganza; A Celebration of Life for the One-and-Only Ken Squier on Saturday, May 4. The very next day, Sunday, May 5, brings the 26th annual Community Bank 150 for the American-Canadian Tour plus the start of the season for the Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers, rk Miles Street Stocks and Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors.

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