RELATED: Full practice results
Kyle Larson soared to the head of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series class Friday, leading opening practice at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Larson, driving the Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 Chevrolet, registered a lap of 192.902 mph on the 1.54-mile track ahead of Sunday's Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 (1 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM).
Kasey Kahne, a three-time Atlanta winner in NASCAR's top division, was second-fastest in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet with a lap of 191.807 mph. AJ Allmendinger (190.975 mph), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (190.646 mph) and Austin Dillon (190.404 mph) completed the top five in the 85-minute opening session.
Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin had a near-miss at the 35-minute mark, enduring a long slide off Turn 2 in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 Toyota. Hamlin righted the car without damage and posted the 23rd-fastest lap of the 39 drivers entered.
Defending race winner Jimmie Johnson was 12th-fastest in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet. Defending Sprint Cup champion Kyle Busch turned the 10th-fastest lap in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota.
Coors Light Pole Qualifying for the Sprint Cup Series' second race of the year is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. ET (FS1).