1997 Audi A4 occasional starting problems

My car generally starts just fine, but once in a while, like say every 8th time, after the car is warmed up it seems I have trouble. It will need to be cranked a lot and acts flooded. After cranking a few times for longer than normal each time it starts.I often eventually try the ole flooded car trick putting the pedal to the floor, which seems to work. I do smell fuel after this episode, whether I did the flooded car trick or not.
Could it be a clogged fuel filter? But, I do not have trouble with performance otherwise.
Thanks,
Curtis