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Northeastern Late Model notables are buzzing in anticipation of the Vermont Governor’s Cup on Thursday night at Thunder Road International Speedbowl.

Former Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch is gearing up for his first trip to the Barre high banks and will take on the region for 150 green flag laps.

The Las Vegas native has 38 victories in NASCAR’s highest level, but is also an accomplished short tracker and the 2009 Snowball Derby champion. In short, he is one of the most accomplished drivers ever to visit the quarter-mile oval and will look for his first victory at the famed speedway.

While many current drivers in the Late Model ranks have raced against previous NASCAR drivers who made the trip to Thunder Road, others will be competing against a driver of Busch’s caliber for the first time. All of them will be ready to defend their turf as Busch attempts to become the first NASCAR invader to win the historic event.

READ MORE: Kyle Busch Enters the Vermont Gov Cup

Enter 2013 Vermont Gov Cup winner Cody Blake.

“I’ve raced against Tony Stewart, David Ragan, Clint Bowyer, and a few others, and they always raced the same as we do,” Blake said. “It’s a bigger name to contend with, but we’ll be prepared. We beat Clint Bowyer – we can beat Kyle Busch.”

Ditto second-year driver Marcel J. Gravel:

“Kyle always runs really well when he races Late Models, and he owns a few of them himself, so I’m sure he’ll be really good,” Gravel said. “He’s a Cup guy, and he’s got a lot of experience short-track racing. I’ll do my best to race him clean, but I’m going to give him everything we’ve got. I just hope my Toyota ends up in front of his.”

Although this will be Busch’s first visit to Thunder Road, he is no stranger to the ACT-type Late Models that compete at the track, having won the Oxford 250 in 2011 when it was an ACT-sanctioned event. For the Vermont Governor’s Cup, he will drive a car prepared by two-time “King of the Road” winner Nick Sweet from Eric Chase’s Mad Dog Motorsports shop.

The biggest names of Thunder Road and ACT-type Late Model racing in the Northeast will be on hand to try and claim the Cup. Vermont Governor Phil Scott has stated that he intends to enter the event after his historic win last Thursday night. Defending “King of the Road” and Vermont Governor’s Cup winner Scott Dragon of Milton will go for two in a row, while Memorial Day Classic winner Bobby Therrien of Hinesburg has proven himself in long-distance events.

Barre’s Jason Corliss and Montpelier’s Kyle Pembroke already have feature wins in 2017.  Trampas Demers, Tyler Cahoon, Josh Demers, Darrell Morin and many others will be ready for 150 laps of action.

Qualifying for the 38th Vermont Governor’s Cup presented by VP Racing Fuels gets underway at 6:30pm on Thursday, July 13. The Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers & Allen Lumber Street Stocks will have a full slate of their weekly racing action as well. The pits open at 2:30pm and the general admission gates open at 3:30pm. Admission is $20 for adults and free for kids ages 12 and under.

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