Could a Nationwide Series event be in Iowa Speedway's future? Track designer Rusty Wallace is taking a "wait and see" approach as the 2009 schedule is currently in the process of being approved.

"We have always asked NASCAR for a Nationwide race or a Truck race, and there's never been room in the schedule," Wallace said last weekend at Montreal. "Now, there's room in the schedule. NASCAR has not called me up and said, 'Hey, we're going to go to Iowa.' They have said they really like our track. They like what it looks like.

"At this point, I'm not going to speculate. I've got my fingers crossed. I hope we get it. But they have never come up to me and said, 'You're getting it. Here's the date.' We're absolutely 100 percent at their mercy."

Located east of Des Moines, Iowa Speedway is most similar to Richmond International Raceway in configuration. The .875-mile tri-oval currently has 25,000 permanent seats and has hosted Indy Racing League events. Brian Ickler edged Kasey Kahne to win NASCAR's East-West Showdown at the track in May.

It was previously announced that the series will not be returning to Mexico City next season. That race date was in late April -- according to Weather.com, the average high in Newton, Iowa, for that date is 62 degrees, with an all-time record high of 89 -- so it's possible that Iowa Speedway could be next in line for that date.

"If Iowa Speedway could be the recipient of that date, I'd gladly take it," Wallace said. "But I've got to reiterate, they have not told us. I don't want to lead anybody on."

Other tracks -- like Miller Motorsports Park in Utah -- have expressed interest in acquiring a Nationwide Series date. And it's possible that NASCAR officials will make more than one adjustment to the 2009 schedule when it is approved and released.

Also:
• Mexico City dropped from 2009 Nationwide schedule