MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Saturday’s opening Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice was largely paced by drivers already locked into the playoffs later this year.

With four of the season’s first five winners landing in the top six on the speed charts, it was Atlanta victor Brad Keselowski’s Ford that went fastest in the 55-minute session, touring the 0.526-mile paper clip in (94.406 mph) to lead the way in his No. 2 Miller Lite Ford.

Ryan Newman’s Chevrolet, which won at Phoenix two weeks ago to break a long drought for Richard Childress Racing, landed second overall (/94.092) ahead of Las Vegas winner Martin Truex Jr., who landed third (/93.835).

Joey Logano and A.J. Allmendinger were fourth and fifth, respectively, followed by points leader, polesitter and Fontana winner Kyle Larson, who dominated the long run statistics sheets but was sixth in single-lap speed.

Larson posted the fastest 15-lap, 20-lap and 30-lap averages in his No. 42 Target Chevrolet, making for a worrisome combination for the rest of the field ahead of Sunday’s STP 500 (2 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM).

Nine-time Martinsville winner Jimmie Johnson, defending race winner Kyle Busch, rookie Erik Jones and Dale Earnhardt Jr. completed the top 10.

Home state favorite and five-time Martinsville winner Denny Hamlin was 12th, while his rookie teammate Daniel Suarez struggled mightily during the session and was a disappointing 34th.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams return to the track at Martinsville Speedway for final practice at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Full practice results can be viewed on the next page…