5th is Gordon's best at TMS.(The Dallas Morning News)

FORT WORTH, Texas _ Jeff Gordon's Texas troubles seem to be over.

Dale Jarrett took the checkered flag in Sunday's Harrah's 500, but Gordon placed fifth, his best finish in five races at Texas Motor Speedway.

"You know our history in Texas," Gordon said. "A top-5 (finish) here is like a win for us."

Gordon's best finish in the previous four Winston Cup races at TMS was last year, when he placed 25th. In the inaugural race (1997), Gordon started outside on the front row but wound up No. 30. In 1998 he placed No. 31. Gordon's worst finish and moment at TMS came in 1999, when his car slammed into a concrete retaining wall. Gordon finished last (No. 43), suffering a concussion and bruised ribs.

However, 2001 was certainly different. In fact, Gordon was bunched with five other cars fighting for the lead with nine laps remaining in the 334-lap (500-mile) race.

"I just couldn't get past (Johnny) Benson," Gordon said. "He was doing what he needed to do to protect his position. If I could have gotten around him and found some clean air, we might've had a chance."

Gordon came into the pits, with most of the leaders, on lap 313 and ...