Current and former hot dog-eating champs faced off in Thursday’s weigh-in ceremony for Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July contest.
This year, the hot dog-eating world record-holder Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, is back at the competition after he skipped last year’s event over a contract dispute.
Chestnut is expected to dominate the men’s competition in what will be his twentieth appearance. He’s won 16 titles and holds the world record of eating 76 hot dogs.
Last year, Patrick Bertoletti, of Chicago gobbled up a gut-wrenching 58 at the competition in Coney Island, in 10 minutes, earning the men’s title.
Bertoletti said Thursday during the weigh-in ceremony in New York that having Chestnunt back “extra motivation.”
“It didn’t feel right last year with him not being there. He’s back this year. The world is whole again, and we’re both gonna be going for the record,” said Bertoletti.
Defending champion Miki Sudo won her 10th title in the women’s division, downing a record 51 links.
That same day Chestnut ate 57 dogs — in only five minutes — in an exhibition with soldiers, in El Paso, Texas.
The yearly bun fight, which dates back to 1972, sees large crowds of fans in foam hot-dog hats gather in front of the original Nathan’s Famous’ restaurant in Coney Island, Brooklyn, to cheer on the competitors as they chow down.
Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog-eating contest will be held Friday.
The contestants are allowed to dunk the dogs in cups of water to soften them up, creating a stomach-churning spectacle.
