The famous eating competitive Joey “Jaws” Chestnut claimed his title on Friday in the famous hot dog food contest on July 4 of Nathan after skipping the gastronomic battle last year in New York for the coveted mustard belt.
Chestnut, 41, consumed 70 1/2 Hot Dogs and Buns in 10 minutes, at the end of his 76 Wieners and Buns record established on July 4, 2021. He marked the 17th victory in 20 appearances for Westfield, Indiana, eating in the international television competition, which was lost in 2024 by a contract.
The defending champion in the female division, Miki Sudo de Tampa, Florida, won his eleventh title, knocking down 33 dogs, surpassing a dozen competitors. Last year, she ate a record of 51 links.
A large crowd, many with foam hot dog hats, challenged high temperatures to witness the annual EAT-A-THON, which is celebrated outside Nathan’s famous restaurant on the island of Coney, Brooklyn, since 1972. Many appear to see the long-awaited return of Chestnut to an event that has called “a precious tradition, a celebration of the US culture life”.
Chestnut beat 14 competitors from all over the United States and internationally, including Australia, the Czech Republic, Ontario, England and Brazil.
Last year, Major League Eating’s event organizer George Shea said that Chestnut would not participate in the contest due to a contract dispute. Chestnut had reached an agreement with a competitive brand, the meat company based on impossible plants Foods.
Chestnut told The Associated Press last month that he had never appeared in any commercial for the company’s vegan Hot Dogs and that Nathan’s is the only hot dog company with which he has worked. But Chestnut acknowledged that “I should have made it clearer with Nathan’s.”
Last year, Chestnut ate 57 dogs, in just five minutes, in an exhibition with soldiers, in Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. He said the event was “incredible” and that he was happy to have the opportunity to eat hot dogs, many of them, July 4.
“I am happy to have done that, but I am very happy to return to Coney Island,” he said.
Last year in New York, Patrick Bertoletti of Chicago swallowed a 58 to win the male title.
