Joey Chestnut’s Hot Dog Eating Dominance Continues

Joey Chestnut has done it again—he claimed victory at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest by gulping down 66 hot dogs and buns, marking his 18th win at this iconic event held at Coney Island.

This victory also marks Chestnut’s 10th consecutive win, which is quite impressive, though he won’t be competing in the 2024 event due to some contentious sponsorship issues.

From the beginning of the contest, Chestnut maintained the lead, keeping pace with 2024 champion Patrick Bertoletti and James Webb for the first minute and a half. However, as time went on, he quickly began to pull ahead. In the first three minutes, Chestnut had 28 points, while his competitors trailed with 22 and 21 points, respectively. By the halfway mark, he’d already devoured 42 hot dogs, enjoying a solid 10-point lead.

Despite being on track for a record-breaking performance—potentially hitting 76 hot dogs with just four minutes left—fatigue and the sweltering heat took their toll. With just a minute remaining, he had managed 60 points, and, in the end, officials confirmed his total was 66.

Chestnut mentioned that he realized early on that breaking the record might be out of reach, yet he kept his composure and successfully secured the victory.

Interestingly, he participated in the contest while under a 180-day probation for a misdemeanor related to an incident at a bar in Indiana. Fortunately, he received permission to travel to New York for the contest.

In the earlier women’s competition, Miki Sudo triumphed, consuming 39 hot dogs and buns. Notably, she has won all 12 contests she has participated in since her first win back in 2014.