Now that Mexico City will not be on the Nationwide Series schedule in 2009, speculation is rampant about a replacement. And the one track that comes up constantly is Iowa Speedway. But Rusty Wallace, who helped design the 0.875-mile track in Newton, Iowa, said NASCAR has not promised a date for next season. We have always asked NASCAR for a Nationwide race or a truck race, and theres never been room in the schedule, Wallace said at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, site of Saturdays NAPA Auto Parts 200. Now, theres room in the schedule. NASCAR has not called me up and said, Hey, were going to go to Iowa. They have said they really like our track. They like what it looks like. At this point, Im not going to speculate. Ive got my fingers crossed. I hope we get it. But they have never come up to me and said, Youre getting it. Heres the date. Were absolutely 100 percent at their mercy. (SceneDaily.com)(8-2-2008)
UPDATE: NASCAR Vice President of Racing Operations Steve ODonnell has confirmed that Iowa Speedway is one of the candidates to replace Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City on the 2009 Nationwide Series schedule. NASCAR has already said it would not return to Mexico for a fifth race there next year, and speculation was rampant that Iowa would be the replacement. Id say theres more than two [tracks], but [Iowa is] absolutely one of the tracks under consideration that weve had conversations with, ODonnell said. We definitely want to find a replacement. We will be at the same number of races as last year. Were still in that process. Weve got a couple of good candidates. Well probably about two weeks away from being ready to announce our schedule for 09.(SceneDaily.com)(8-4-2008)
UPDATE 2: The Nationwide Series is expected to be making a mid-season pit stop in Iowa. Channel 13 Sports has learned that the Iowa Speedway in Newton is planning a big announcement for Tuesday.(WHO-TV)(8-16-2008)
UPDATE 3: The target date for the race is August 1st, with a possibility of it being aired on ESPN.(WOI-TV.com)(8-16-2008)
UPDATE 4: The Iowa Speedway in Newton will host a NASCAR Nationwide Series race next season. Track officials announced Tuesday that the 250-lap race will run on August 1. Rusty Wallace says it has yet to be decided whether the race will be run during the day or at night.(WHO-TV.com)(8-19-2008)
