Joey Chestnut is set to compete in the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, aiming for his 18th victory. This year's competition coincides with America's 250th birthday.
Chestnut's return to the contest in 2025 marked his comeback after a one-year absence in 2024. He was barred from participating due to a sponsorship dispute with Major League Eating, having signed a deal with a rival hot dog brand. After negotiations, Chestnut was allowed to compete again just weeks before the 2025 event, where he secured his title with 70.5 hot dogs and buns.
"It was great. The audience is awesome, it's electric. It's good to be back after mending some fences," Chestnut told Fox News Digital regarding his return. "I do what I love. I got the best job in the world. I get to eat, travel, beat the heck out of people, and meet happy people. So it was great to be back."
Chestnut's storied career began to ascend in 2007, ending Takeru Kobayashi's six-year reign. Chestnut defeated Kobayashi with 66 hot dogs to 63, a rivalry that continued for several years. Following Kobayashi's ban in 2010, Chestnut dominated the event, winning consecutively through 2014. In 2015, he experienced a rare defeat to Matt Stonie, but Chestnut regained his dominance, winning the subsequent eight contests.
His personal life has also presented challenges. In 2022, a protester interrupted his eating, but Chestnut managed to subdue the individual and continue the contest, ultimately consuming 63 hot dogs. More recently, Chestnut faced a battery charge in Indiana after an altercation at a bar. He pleaded guilty in April and is serving 180 days of probation, though he received permission to travel for the July 4th event.
Chestnut holds the all-time record of 76 hot dogs and buns, set in 2021. He had previously broken his own records in 2019 and 2018 with 75 and 74 hot dogs, respectively.
Despite the individual focus on his performance, Chestnut views the event as more than just a competition. "It's never about me. It's not even about the hot dogs. It's the Fourth of July. It's an eating contest, but really, it's a Fourth of July celebration, it's a celebration in New York," he stated. "I'm just a very little part of it. And when it comes to that celebration, I'm very happy that I was able to come back and be part of people's Fourth of July."