1998 Dodge Ram engine won't catch

Engine Mechanical problem
1998 Dodge Ram V8 Two Wheel Drive Automatic 135k miles

Yesterday morning my truck would not start. The engine would turn but not catch. It would start to catch and rumble a bit, but not catch, I have a new battery so I kept trying and it finally caught, seemed to blow out the cobwebs and for the rest of the day and night it started every time without a hitch. This morning same thing, won't catch. It rumbles like it wants to catch, stumbles a bit then after pulling the air filter exhaust hose off, I can see and really smell a very rich smoke comming from the top of the manifold. It did this yesterday too, but this was the cobwebs it blew out. Today it's just not gettin it. I'm in houston texas and it's been wet, wet, wet here and theirs been some freezing. Not this morning though.