Joey Chestnut, the reigning champion of Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, didn’t compete in Coney Island this year due to his partnership with Impossible Foods, a plant-based rival brand, which resulted in his ban from the event. However, he kept his July 4 tradition alive by participating in a hot dog eating contest at Fort Bliss Army base in El Paso, Texas.
Although the contest at Fort Bliss lacked the grandeur of the Coney Island stage and ESPN coverage, Chestnut was motivated by the modest crowd and the opportunity to celebrate America with hot dogs on Independence Day. Sporting his winner’s belt, Chestnut emerged victorious by consuming an impressive 57 hot dogs in just five minutes. The soldiers he competed against managed to eat a combined total of 49 hot dogs, falling short of Chestnut’s individual count.
This year’s Nathan’s contest saw Miki Sudo set a women’s world record by devouring 51 hot dogs, securing her 10th pink belt. In the men’s competition, Patrick Bertoletti claimed victory by consuming 58 hot dogs. These remarkable feats further highlight the incredible capacity of competitive eaters like Sudo and Bertoletti.
Following Chestnut’s win at Fort Bliss, Peter McGuinness, the CEO of Impossible Foods, presented a $106,000 check to Operation Homefront, a nonprofit organization that supports military families. This not only demonstrates Chestnut’s commitment to honoring his family’s military background but also showcases the positive impact that competitive eating events can have on charitable causes.
While fans may have missed seeing Chestnut on the national broadcast from Coney Island, they can still catch him in action on Labor Day. Netflix will feature a winner-take-all hot dog eating contest between Chestnut and his rival, Takeru Kobayashi. This highly anticipated event promises to be a thrilling showdown between two renowned competitive eaters.
Overall, Chestnut’s victory at Fort Bliss exemplifies his dedication to his craft and his ability to adapt to unforeseen circumstances. Despite being banned from the event he has dominated for years, he found an alternative platform to showcase his skills and support a worthy cause. As Chestnut continues to break records and push the boundaries of competitive eating, fans eagerly await his future endeavors.