Rookie Kyle Larson has been handed his maiden NASCAR Sprint Cup series pole position after qualifying was rained off at Richmond.

Rain showers had been falling on the 0.75-mile oval late on Friday afternoon and a light drizzle turned into a downpour prior to the session beginning, resulting in its cancellation so as not to delay the following Nationwide Series race.

As a result, drivers will start the ninth round of the 2014 Sprint Cup season based on their first practice times.

Larson topped the opening session with a best time of 21.280 seconds (126.880 mph) and shares the front row with former Series champion Brad Keselowski.

Clint Bowyer and Kasey Kahne occupy row two, while defending race-winner Kevin Harvick lines up fifth ahead of Brian Vickers, Jamie McMurray and Ryan Truex.

Current points leader Jeff Gordon struggled to find pace in the first practice session and starts in 25th position.

Early indications are that it should remain dry for Saturday night’s race.

Pos  Driver              Team/Car              
 1.  Kyle Larson         Ganassi Chevrolet     
 2.  Brad Keselowski     Penske Ford           
 3.  Clint Bowyer        Waltrip Toyota        
 4.  Kasey Kahne         Hendrick Chevrolet    
 5.  Kevin Harvick       Stewart-Haas Chevrolet
 6.  Brian Vickers       Waltrip Toyota        
 7.  Jamie McMurray      Ganassi Chevrolet     
 8.  Ryan Truex          BK Toyota             
 9.  Paul Menard         Childress Chevrolet   
10.  Jimmie Johnson      Hendrick Chevrolet    
11.  Marcos Ambrose      Petty Ford            
12.  Matt Kenseth        Joe Gibbs Toyota      
13.  Dale Earnhardt Jr   Hendrick Chevrolet    
14.  AJ Allmendinger     JTG Daugherty Chevrole
15.  Aric Almirola       Petty Ford            
16.  Carl Edwards        Roush Fenway Ford     
17.  Joey Logano         Penske Ford           
18.  Ryan Newman         Childress Chevrolet   
19.  Kyle Busch          Joe Gibbs Toyota      
20.  Tony Stewart        Stewart-Haas Chevrolet
21.  Kurt Busch          Stewart-Haas Chevrolet
22.  Martin Truex Jr     Furniture Row Ford    
23.  Michael Annett      Baldwin Chevrolet     
24.  Alex Bowman         BK Toyota             
25.  Jeff Gordon         Hendrick Chevrolet    
26.  Greg Biffle         Roush Fenway Ford     
27.  Austin Dillon       Childress Chevrolet   
28.  Denny Hamlin        Joe Gibbs Toyota      
29.  Ricky Stenhouse Jr  Roush Fenway Ford     
30.  David Reutimann     Front Row Ford        
31.  Justin Allgaier     Hscott Chevrolet      
32.  Travis Kvapil       Go FAS Ford           
33.  David Gilliland     Front Row Ford        
34.  Casey Mears         German Chevrolet      
35.  Danica Patrick      Stewart-Haas Chevrolet
36.  Reed Sorenson       Baldwin Chevrolet     
37.  David Ragan         Front Row Ford        
38.  Michael McDowell    Leavine Ford          
39.  David Stremme       Circle Sport Chevrolet
40.  Dave Blaney         Humphrey Ford         
41.  Josh Wise           Parsons Chevrolet     
42.  Cole Whitt          Swan Toyota           
43.  Joe Nemechek        NEMCO Toyota