The annual Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest is set to take place in New York City on Thursday, but this year, the reigning champion Joey “Jaws” Chestnut will be absent. Chestnut, who has dominated the competition in the past, will be competing against soldiers at a U.S. Army base in El Paso instead.
This means that the field is wide open for a new champion to emerge at the traditional Brooklyn event. Competitors from around the world will gather on America’s Independence Day to see who can consume the most hot dogs in 10 minutes. Fans from all over flock to Coney Island, the iconic beachfront location of the contest, to witness the spectacle.
Participants from over a dozen states and five continents, including countries like Brazil, Japan, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Australia, and the Czech Republic, will be vying for the coveted title and the $10,000 prize money. Australian James Webb, a record-holder for eating 70 doughnuts in eight minutes, expressed confidence that a new champion will be crowned this year.
Last year, Chestnut set a record by devouring 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, securing his title once again. However, this year, the spotlight will be on other competitors. ESPN will be focusing on Geoffrey Esper from Massachusetts and Miki Sudo from Florida, who are the favorites in their respective divisions.
Esper, a high school teacher, is the top pick in the men’s division, followed by James Webb, Nick Wehry, and Patrick Bertoletti. Sudo, a dental hygiene student, will be defending her title against challengers like Mayoi Ebihara from Japan. The competition promises to be fierce, with each contestant pushing themselves to their limits.
Chestnut’s absence from the event stems from a sponsorship disagreement with Impossible Foods, a plant-based meat substitute company. Although Major League Eating, the organizer of the contest, initially disinvited Chestnut, they later rescinded the ban. Despite this, Chestnut chose to spend the holiday with the troops at Fort Bliss army base in El Paso.
The event at Fort Bliss will feature Chestnut competing against four soldiers in a five-minute hot dog eating contest. Impossible Foods is promoting the exhibition by sponsoring a livestream of the event and donating to an organization supporting military families based on the number of hot dogs consumed.
In Chestnut’s absence, a new champion will emerge at the Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest this year. With competitors from around the world vying for the title, the stage is set for a thrilling and competitive event on America’s Independence Day.