The first year was about learning, the second year is still more learning, just slightly more organized.

Rockingham Speedway owner Andy Hillenburg is still getting an education on running a racetrack after being behind the wheel of a car or being a car owner most of his adult life.

“We are learning to prepare for the unexpected” Hillenburg said. “At the Polar Bear 150, despite us checking and testing all week, about 15 minutes before the race we had a glitch in the sound system. So our philosophy is - everything is possible.”

One of the major obstacles Hillenburg has had to overcome after the track sat dormant for four and a half years before racing returned to Rockingham Speedway was the track’s infrastructure. During the idle time, the former owner Speedway Motorsports (SMI) dismantled a good portion of the concession stands.

“We had to buy cooking hoods, get things up-to-date, and get it all inspected,” Hillenburg said. “It was something we had to do last year, but once we got it done, all we have to do is clean everything.”

Also, Hillenburg has built a half-mile track, which is being used for testing only right now, but hopes to have it ready for racing by 2011.

As a racer and an owner, Hillenburg can foresee adding improvements to the pits and other areas for the drivers, but as a track owner his first concern lies elsewhere - the fans.

“We have to put the fans first,” Hillenburg said. “As more fans come, then we can make improvements to the garage area. We have to make sure the fans come first.”

Despite the sound system problem to begin the year, Hillenburg is moving the track forward in its second year from rising from its ashes like a Phoenix.

“The Rock,” as it is affectionately known, will host a second ARCA race this year as well as the Cherry Bomb 200 during the Fourth of July weekend.

In fact, ARCA’s final race of its season will be at Rockingham Speedway. Even though Hillenburg was the 1995 series champion and was named ARCA’s promoter of the year in 2008, it wasn’t his idea to add the additional race or finish the season at his track.

“It was put out there to crown the champion of the series of ARCA at ‘The Rock’” Hillenburg said. “It’s such a popular racetrack and a lot of drivers have fond memories here. The saying is ‘All roads lead to The Rock’”

While Hillenburg is beginning to reap the rewards of returning the track to prominence on the lower-tier racing leagues, the talk and rumors of having NASCAR return to its roots is always out there.

“I don’t think getting a Cup race is in our control,” Hillenburg said. “Plus, it is silly to ask for one now. Do I think it could happen in 10 to 20 years? Yes, all things are possible.

“I think a Nationwide or truck series race is more feasible. I’m paying my dues as a promoter.”

Hillenburg is happy with having the four headline races each year, but felt he needed to add something else during the ARCA weekend.

“There was a lot of down time (at the ARCA race last year),” Hillenburg said. “So we added the Late Model race on (before the ARCA qualifying). I’m a bit nervous about adding the second event, but we are stepping it up now.”