Joey Chestnut reclaimed his championship title at the Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4, eating 66 hot dogs and buns to secure his 18th victory. This win marks his 10th consecutive triumph at the renowned Coney Island competition. Chestnut had been barred from participating in the 2024 event due to sponsorship disputes with Major League Eating.
Chestnut's early performance was competitive, with rivals Patrick Bertoletti and James Webb closely matching him in the initial 90 seconds. However, Chestnut gradually pulled ahead. By the three-minute mark, he had consumed 28 hot dogs, while Webb was at 22 and Bertoletti at 21. At the halfway point, Chestnut had established a significant lead, having eaten 42 hot dogs, 10 more than his closest competitor.
As the contest progressed, Chestnut maintained a pace that neared his previous record of 76 hot dogs. Despite the near-triple-digit heat, he reached the 60-dog mark with one minute remaining. After the official time concluded, his total was counted at 66.
Chestnut acknowledged that he did not anticipate setting a new record during the event but remained focused on securing the win. He competed while serving a 180-day probation for a misdemeanor battery charge, having received permission to travel to New York for the contest.
Earlier in the day, Miki Sudo won the women's competition, eating 39 hot dogs and buns. Sudo has an undefeated record in the 12 contests she has entered, with her first win dating back to 2014.