NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

While fans are expecting fast cars and motorcycles, flames flying from header pipes, and fireworks at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, this weekend, June 26-29, at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, a new feature will pack on even more power.
 
The United States Open Hot Saw Championship sponsored by Stihl, Real American Hardwood, Troyer Hardwood, Sunoco Race Fuels, and Jarrett Logistics will be abuzz with chainsaws that have single-cylinder engines sipping high-octane fuels and pumping out 45-70 horsepower with 230-mph chain speeds.
 
“This is a lumberjack sport with athletes racing modified chainsaws with powerful engines,” said Mike Sullivan, director of competition and a competitor. “We compete head-to-head, just like a drag race, and the winner moves on. You have to start your saw and go, make three cuts, downward, upward and downward, and you only have six and a half inches of wood to do so. If you cross the line, you are disqualified, and if the three cuts are not complete, you are disqualified. It takes speed and accuracy to get to the next round. What makes this even more exciting is including some of the NHRA drivers, who will be using steel stock 362 saws.”
 
The 16 competitors will be seeded and separated into two brackets of eight. The first round will be run with all 16 competitors, and it will go down to eight, four, two, and one from there. The winner will be awarded a monetary prize. The performance schedule is as follows: 
 
Friday, June 27 – Pro Am Day — 1 p.m.

Four Hot Saw competitors and four NHRA Professional drivers will team up with an NHRA driver who will compete against three other Hot Saw competitors and NHRA Professional drivers combining times from the Hot Saw competitors and NHRA Professional drivers head-to-head.

Run order:
• Heat 1 – Team 1 against Team 4
• Heat 2 – Team 2 against Team 3
• Final – Winner of Heat 1 versus Winner of Heat 2
• Introductions and explanation of event (15 minutes)
• Heat 1 (10 minutes)
• Heat 2 (10 minutes)
• Cool down interviews with competitors in finals (10 minutes)
• Final (10 minutes)
• Winner interview + trophy presentation (5 minutes)
 
Saturday, June 28 – Seeding Round of 16 – 10 a.m.
Opening Ceremony Introductions.
Run Order
• Opening ceremony Introduction.  Each competitor will be called to stage, introduced and draw position to compete in the seeding round of 16. (15 minutes)
• Eight heats of racing (5 minutes each)
• Single cut reruns. For any DQ all competitors must have time to get seed. (10 minutes) 
• After last heat, all competitors will be brought to the stage in reverse qualifying order with interviews (10 minutes)
 
Sunday, June 29 – Opening Ceremonies, Introduction of Competitors and Pairings – 2 p.m.
• Run Order:
• 8 hats of head-to-head
• 4 heats of head-to-head
• Run time (10 minutes):
• Four (4) Bracket A – four (4) Bracket B (5 minutes each)
• Two (2) Bracket A – two (2) Bracket B (5 minutes each)
  
Sunday, June 29 – Championship Finals Introduction – 3:45 p.m.
Run Order:
• Two heats of head-to-head
• Run time (15 minutes):
• Semifinals (5 minutes each)
• Cool down and finals interviews (5 minutes)
• Final round and winner presentation (5 minutes)
 
“Fans who have seen the United States Open Hot Saw Championship on television and have not seen it live will not believe how fast it happens,” said Sullivan. “The chainsaws are loud and powerful. They are not regular chainsaws.”