(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 23, 2012) - Team Messina Rookie Challenge contender Alex Bowman posted a top-10 qualifying run and ran as high as sixth at Lap 130 of 200 in his second NASCAR Nationwide Series start Saturday at Kentucky Speedway.

Bowman, driving for RAB Racing, qualified the No. 99 Toyota ninth just one week after making his series debut at Chicagoland Speedway. He rose to sixth by Lap 70 before falling slightly, but regained that position. Car trouble clearly plagued the young driver, though, as he finished 25th.

Bowman had clearly exhibited speed at Kentucky, where he had never raced, finishing second on the speed chart in final practice.

On his Twitter account, Bowman expressed his appreciation to his team.

"Just want to say thanks to (owner Robby Benton), (crew chief Scott Zipadelli), and all of RAB Racing for giving me the opportunity to (drive) their car," he typed. "Definitely feel like we could've run top 5 probably even better but things happen and it just wasn't our day!"

As the driver of the No. 22 Cunningham Motorsports Dodge in the ARCA ranks, he currently leads Brennan Poole by four points in the Team Messina Rookie Challenge, and will race Sunday, October 14 at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.

Practice for the Southern Illinois 100 presented by Federated Car Care will begin that day at 9 a.m. and last for one hour, with Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell starting at 11:15. The 100-lap, 100-mile race will take place at 1:30 p.m. All times are Central. ARCARacing.com will feature live timing and scoring coverage throughout the day, and ARCA Racing Network hosts Charlie Krall and Tim Clagg will deliver a live audio call for the race on the site. The race had been scheduled for Labor Day, but was postponed because of severe weather in southern Illinois.