Latest news with #hotdogcontest
The Independent
31 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Joey 'Jaws' Chestnut hopes for a comeback victory in annual Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest
The Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest is back, and famed competitive eater Joey 'Jaws' Chestnut is hoping for a comeback 17th win on Friday. The 41-year-old, from Westfield, Indiana, was not in last year's event due to a contract dispute involving a deal he had struck with a competing brand, the plant-based meat company Impossible Foods. But now he's back, saying things have been ironed out. Patrick Bertoletti, of Chicago, won the title in Chestnut's absence and is the defending men's champion. In the women's competition, defending champion Miki Sudo, 39, of Tampa, Fla., is the favorite this year and is seeking her 11th title. Last year she downed a record 51 dogs. The annual gastronomic battle, which dates back to 1972, is held in front of the original Nathan's Famous' restaurant at New York 's Coney Island and draws large crowds of fans, many in foam hot dog hats. Competitors in the men's and women's categories chow down as many hot dogs as possible in 10 minutes. They are allowed to dunk the dogs in cups of water to soften them up, creating a stomach-churning spectacle. The 15 men in the competition hail from across the U.S. and internationally, including Australia, Czech Republic, Canada, England and Brazil. The 13 women competitors are all Americans. Chestnut set the world record of eating 76 wieners and buns in 10 minutes on July 4, 2021. He has won a record 16 Mustard Belts. Instead of appearing in New York last year, Chestnut ate 57 dogs — in only five minutes — in an exhibition with soldiers, in El Paso, Texas. Chestnut told The Associated Press last month that while he was happy to compete at that event, he was 'really happy to be back at Coney Island.' Chestnut said he had never appeared in any commercials for Impossible Foods' vegan hot dogs and that Nathan's is the only hot dog company he has worked with. But he acknowledged he 'should have made that more clear with Nathan's.'
CNN
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Competitive eating expert breaks down strategy ahead of Nathan's Hot Dog Contest
Ahead of the annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, CNN's Harry Enten visits Coney Island and speaks with Major League Eating co-founder George Shea about the technique behind competitive eating—and what makes legends like Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi so hard to beat.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Joey Chestnut Ends Beef With Nathan's, Officially Returning To Compete In Hot Dog Eating Contest
Joey Chestnut is making a triumphant return to Coney Island. The world-famous competitive eater has officially settled his dispute with Nathan's Famous and confirmed he'll once again take the stage at this year's Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. Advertisement Chestnut was previously banned from the 2024 competition after inking a deal with Impossible Foods, promoting their plant-based hot dogs, something Nathan's saw as a direct threat to their iconic all-beef product and claimed to be a violation of their contract. The endorsement deal led to major backlash, with Nathan's pulling the plug on the long-running relationship just weeks before the annual event. But now, Joey Chestnut is back, and with buns blazing. Joey Chestnut Returns To Nathan's July 4th Contest 'I'm thrilled to be returning to the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest,' Chestnut said in a statement. 'This event means the world to me. It's a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life.' Advertisement While Chestnut acknowledged his partnerships with companies in the plant-based food space, he made it clear there was never any confusion in his mind about where his loyalties lie. 'To be clear: Nathan's is the only hot dog company I've ever worked with,' he said. 'I respect that there were differences in interpretation, but I'm grateful we've been able to find common ground.' That 'common ground' comes in the form of a brand-new, three-year endorsement deal with Nathan's and the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE), which organizes the annual July 4th event. 'I'm excited to be back on the Coney Island stage, doing what I live to do, and celebrating the Fourth of July with hot dogs in my hands! Stay hungry!' Chestnut added. He declined to reveal the financial details of the deal but confirmed with USA TODAY Sports that he is still collaborating with Impossible Foods. Advertisement Nathan's Contest Announcer Speaks Out On Joey Chestnut's Return / MEGA George Shea, the founder of IFOCE and announcer for the Nathan's contest, confirmed Chestnut is clear to compete. 'We're very excited to have Joey back and we believe this is going to be the best contest ever,'' Shea told USA TODAY Sports. For the record, while Chestnut was out of the competition last year, Patrick Bertoletti claimed the men's title by eating 58 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, falling 18 short of Chestnut's record-setting 76. Chestnut Once Doubtful Of Nathan's Return / MEGA This comes just weeks after Chestnut told The Blast exclusively that he was unsure of his relationship status with the hot dog company. Advertisement 'If they came back with similar terms we were talking about last year, I would definitely consider it,' he said at the time. 'I'd work with them to make sure there weren't any conflicts with other sponsors… But honestly, I don't think they want to go down that route. And yeah, it's a bummer. I love that contest.' Hot Dog King Fired Back After Ban Over Plant-Based Partnership Instagram | Joey Chestnut The drama began last year when Major League Eating announced, "We are devastated to learn that Joey Chestnut has chosen to represent a rival brand that sells plant-based hot dogs rather than competing in the 2024 Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest." Advertisement Joey then clapped back, setting the record straight. "I do not have a contract with MLE or Nathan's and they are looking to change the rules from past years as it relates to other partners I can work with,' Chestnut said at the time. "This is apparently the basis on which I'm being banned, and it doesn't impact the July 4th contest.' Instead of competing in Nathan's contest last year, Joey competed against soldiers from Fort Bliss during the annual "Pop Goes the Fort Independence Day" celebration. Joey Chestnut's Sweet Victory Instagram | Joey Chestnut In addition to his 16 victories at Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, Joey Chestnut has proven he's got a serious sweet tooth, shattering multiple records in the dessert category. Advertisement In 2009, he devoured 5.9 pounds of funnel cake in just 10 minutes. By 2013, he downed an astonishing 121 Twinkies in six minutes, and in 2017, he polished off 55 glazed doughnuts in only eight minutes. With just weeks to go before the iconic competition, fans can breathe a sigh of relief knowing the hot dog king is returning to reclaim his crown, and likely break a few more records in the process.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Joey Chestnut's Odds To Win In 2025 Hot Dog Showdown Revealed
Joey Chestnut, the world-renowned competitive eater, is making his grand return to the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. After settling a dispute with Nathan's Famous, Joey Chestnut is back on the Coney Island stage, ready to reclaim his title and continue his dominance in the world of competitive eating. Advertisement Joey Chestnut Returns To Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest After Controversial Break / MEGA Chestnut's absence from the 2024 competition was due to a controversial endorsement deal with Impossible Foods, where he promoted their plant-based hot dogs. Nathan's, known for its all-beef hot dogs, saw the deal as a direct threat to their product and viewed it as a violation of their contract with Chestnut. This led to Nathan's pulling their long-running relationship with the competitive eating champion just weeks before the annual event. But now, Chestnut is back, and with a vengeance. "I'm thrilled to be returning to the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest,' Chestnut said in a statement. 'This event means the world to me. It's a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life.' Advertisement Chestnut Reaffirms Loyalty To Nathan's Famous With New Three-Year Deal / MEGA While Chestnut has maintained partnerships with companies in the plant-based food space, he made it clear that his loyalty to Nathan's remains unwavering. 'To be clear: Nathan's is the only hot dog company I've ever worked with,' he explained. 'I respect that there were differences in interpretation, but I'm grateful we've been able to find common ground.' This new 'common ground' came in the form of a fresh three-year endorsement deal with Nathan's Famous and the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE), the organization behind the event. Joey Chestnut confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that he is still collaborating with Impossible Foods, but his allegiance to Nathan's has been solidified. Advertisement Joey Chestnut Favored To Win Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest With 1/20 Odds / MEGA Performance projections from The Action Network show that Joey Chestnut has an impressive chance of victory in this year's contest, with odds of 1/20 (or -2000 in American odds). Even with strong challengers like reigning champion Patrick Bertoletti (+1600), seasoned eater Geoffrey Esper (+2200), and international contender James Webb (+2500), Chestnut remains the overwhelming favorite. Joey Chestnut's return has sparked intense excitement in the competitive eating world, and fans are eager to see him back in action. "No matter what, I'll be eating hot dogs on July 4th somewhere," Chestnut told The Action Network in a recent interview. "I love competition. I love pushing myself, and I feel like I've already started training to eat hot dogs. My body's working really well." Advertisement Chestnut Reveals Training Secrets Ahead Of Return To Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest / MEGA The competitive eater also shared his training regimen, explaining how he prepares for the grueling contest. 'Every food's a little different, but I always try to find the right rhythm early,' he said. 'In competitive eating, you're pushing your whole core to the max." He added, "You've got to be in tune with your body and be able to breathe right, stay clean, and perform, especially when people show up to see you win.' Joey Chestnut Poised For A Comeback / MEGA Despite sitting out the 2024 contest, Chestnut's return to the Coney Island stage signals that he is ready to reclaim his title. Advertisement "I'm excited to be back on the Coney Island stage, doing what I live to do, and celebrating the Fourth of July with hot dogs in my hands! Stay hungry!" Chestnut said, showing that his passion for the sport and for Nathan's Famous remains as strong as ever. While Chestnut sat out of the competition last year, Patrick Bertoletti claimed the men's title by consuming 58 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, falling 18 short of Chestnut's record-breaking 76. 'We're very excited to have Joey back and we believe this is going to be the best contest ever,'' George Shea, the founder of IFOCE and announcer for the Nathan's contest, told USA TODAY Sports. Now, as this year's contest approaches, all eyes will be on Chestnut, who remains the gold standard in competitive eating. Whether he's up against a fierce challenger or continuing his legacy of domination, it is clear that Joey Chestnut is back, and he's hungry for another victory.
CNN
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Competitive eating expert breaks down strategy ahead of Nathan's Hot Dog Contest
Ahead of the annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, CNN's Harry Enten visits Coney Island and speaks with Major League Eating co-founder George Shea about the technique behind competitive eating—and what makes legends like Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi so hard to beat.
