HARTFORD — Repeated speeches about strong podium runs and satisfying runner-up finishes became commonplace for David Gravel the past two months.

A fourth win of the year was in his grasp on several occasions but lost in the closing stage of the race.

The same story was playing out again in the final three laps of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature at Hartford Speedway Friday night.

However, behind the façade of being content with another podium was the raging fire to win again.

“You never want to finish second. You want to win these races,” Gravel said.

On the final restart of the race, with three laps to go, Gravel let the fire loose. He had worked too hard to put himself in a winning position and lose it again.

Gravel won his Drydene Heat race and finished second in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash — putting him on the front row for the 30-lap Feature. He had an advantage over the entire field, too — he is the only driver to have won on the track’s three-eighths-mile configuration.

On the initial start Gravel lost second-place to 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz, who snuck under the Watertown, Connecticut-native in turn one and cleared him down the backstretch. However, the red flag came out before a lap was completed.

Several cars were involved in an accident on the backstretch, including Series points leader Brad Sweet. The lengthy red flag period — to tow three cars off the track — allowed Sweet’s Kasey Kahne Racing team, along with team members from several other teams, to get the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 car fixed and back on track before the race went green again.