Joey Chestnut Triumphs in Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest After Year-long Hiatus

Joey Chestnut, the dominant figure in the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, was notably absent last year following a dispute with the event’s organizers that led to his disqualification, surprising many fans.

This Fourth of July, in the sweltering heat outside Nathan’s flagship restaurant at Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island, Chestnut made a powerful comeback in the men’s division. He captivated the audience by consuming 70.5 hot dogs in ten minutes.

Though he did not surpass his personal record of 76 hot dogs, Chestnut comfortably outpaced last year’s champion, Patrick Bertoletti, who managed 46.5 hot dogs.

Celebrating his victory, Chestnut raised his fist triumphantly. When asked about reclaiming the title he had held for 16 years, he expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I love being here,” and promised the crowd, “I’ll be back next year.”

The midday sun pushed temperatures into the high 80s, creating challenging conditions that likely prevented new records. The women’s competition saw reigning champion Miki Sudo, an 11-time winner, secure a solid victory with 33 hot dogs, though she fell short of her record of 51.

Sudo acknowledged she was not at her peak performance and attributed the lower count to the buns being “more doughy than usual.”