“Right now, these stand alone races are vital,” said Kenny Wallace, who has more than 800 starts across NASCAR’s top three series, but now races exclusively in Nationwide. “We’ve got to get it back to the way it used to be. See, when I started in it in 1989, me, Bobby Labonte, Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon — a lot of great race car drivers — we were able to race for independent car owners, meaning none of our owners were Sprint Cup owners. And that’s where all that talent came from.

“So nowadays, I’m proud and happy to hear (NASCAR chairman and CEO) Bill France say they’re going to go back and they’re going to make it to where a Sprint Cup driver should not be allowed to win the championship. We’re the only sport in the world where a superstar can go down and pick on the college or high school boys.”

An average of 5.3 so-called “regular guys,” meaning full-time Nationwide Series drivers, have occupied the top 10 in six previous stand-alone events this season.

Still, only one driver who doesn’t run at least part-time in Cup — Justin Allgaier — has won a Nationwide race this year.

Last year, Brad Keselowski, then a Nationwide Series-only driver who now also competes regularly in Cup S, captured the checkered flag at Newton.

“I think the stand alone weekends represent an opportunity for guys like myself who are running the Nationwide Series full time and not running full time in the Cup Series to really get themselves out there and prove they can go to the next level,” said Keselowski, who leads Cup star Carl Edwards by 205 points in the Nationwide standings. “And as a driver, all you can ask for is an opportunity. These opportunities on stand alone weekends are special ones.”

They also afford tracks without a Cup date, such as Iowa Speedway, a prime platform to showcase its facility and fan support.

“The hospitality that the Nationwide Series receives at the Iowa Speedway is second to none,” said Nationwide Series director of competition Joe Balash. “The fan response — bringing in all the extra seating; basically, the facility’s sold out at (25,000) and then they keep adding the extended bleachers and now they’re talking another crowd of 54-55,000 people? It’s awesome. It really shows that people are excited about the Nationwide Series, and they’re excited about Iowa Speedway.”

The importance of that support comes into sharp relief when considering the recent announcement by the owners of Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis that the track will not seek sanctions for its two Nationwide races and one Camping World Truck Series race in 2011 because of economic factors.

Keeping — and courting more — NASCAR races requires a track to stay on its toes and maintain and expand its fans base.

“I think the NASCAR community is certainly looking at Iowa,” Keselowski said. “As a sport, we have to go where we’re wanted. And if we’re wanted at Iowa, that’s where we need to go.”

And the Nationwide Series continues to evolve.

The new car, which comes fully on-line next season — though it won’t be used at Iowa — is expected to further deepen the Nationwide Series’ unique identity.

“I think our new car has been a great step in separating the Nationwide garage from the Sprint Cup garage,” Balash said. “And as we continue to look at what are the opportunities to highlight Nationwide Series regulars, we’ll take a look at all of the opportunities and see if there aren’t some things that make sense for us to do.”

IOWA SPEEDWAY

Type: Oval

Length: 0.875 miles

Banking: 12-13-14 degree compound banking in turns. 10 degree banking, front stretch. Four degree banking, backstretch.

Notable: Track was designed by former NASCAR star Rusty Wallace. Grandstand seating can accommodate 25,000 fans. There are 104 RV spaces on the backstretch, as well as 28 luxury suites and 2,000 Newton Club seats.

LAST YEAR'S U.S. CELLULAR 250

Brad Keselowski passed Kyle Busch with eight laps to go, winning the inaugural U.S. Cellular 250 last August at Newton. After the triumph, Keselowski drew laughter when asked why the fans reacted so wildly to his win.

“Beating Kyle Busch,” he answered, grinning.

Des Moines native Michael Annett took 11th last year at Iowa Speedway.