1.   But Gordon has been silky smooth ever since, finishing fourth three years ago and fifth the past two races.

2.   Finishing fourth is key because the top four teams have home-ice advantage in the first round.

3.   Finishing fourth was Kim Williams, the first-round co-leader.

4.   Finishing fourth was Seeking the Pearl.

5.   He won the all-around gold at the world championships last year in Japan after finishing fourth the year before.

6.   LaJoie, who starts on the outside of the first row today, intends to challenge Earnhardt Jr. for the points title after finishing fourth last year.

7.   Since finishing fourth in his first race, Skip Away has been out of the money only once.

8.   When Woods ignored the media last Sunday after finishing fourth in the MasterCard Colonial in Fort Worth, he was chastised.

9.   With Bryan Jones finishing fourth and Matt Ulrickson fifth, it meant that four of the first five finishers in the race had University of Texas ties.

10.   Prado was shut out in the first race, on his B horse, then got on the board by finishing fourth in the second race.