Tag: Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

Patrick Bertoletti shocks the field and wins first Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in Joey Chestnut’s absence

A first-time winner in the annual competition.

Patrick Bertoletti took advantage of the absence of Joey Chestnut to make a statement at the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. Chestnut, who had won 8-straight and 16 of the last 17, was disqualified from this year’s event due to a brand deal with a competitor.

MORE: Eric ‘Badlands’ Booker set a new record in the Nathan’s lemonade chug and roared into the microphone

Instead, the raucous crowd saw Bertoletti demolish 58 hot dogs and buns — a new personal best for the eater — earn the coveted mustard belt. Bertoletti beat out Geoffrey Esper, the No. 2 eater in the world, to snag the victory.

“I wasn’t going to stop eating until the job was done,” Bertoletti said after his win.

Eric ‘Badlands’ Booker set a new record in the Nathan’s lemonade chug and roared into the microphone

Another dominant performance from Badlands Booker.

There may not be any Joey Chestnut at this year’s Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, but that doesn’t mean the afternoon in Coney Island was without drama and excitement. In the women’s competition, Miki Sudo crushed a record-setting 51 hot dogs and buns. And she wasn’t the only one putting new entries into the record book.

MORE: Why Joey Chestnut isn’t in the 2024 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

Chugging icon Eric “Badlands” Booker took just 21 seconds to down an entire gallon of lemonade, setting a new standard in the event. While others at the table took breaks for air, Badlands powered through in one fell swoop, making the gallon look like nothing more than a swig of your favorite beverage.

After his victory, Booker celebrated with a deep roar into the microphone. Perfect performance, no notes.

Watch Miki Sudo break a Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest record with her 10th win

Sudo once again shows how dominant she can be in the field.

No woman is better at eating a lot of Nathan’s hot dogs in a short amount of time than competitive eater Miki Sudo, and she proved it yet again this Fourth of July. Sudo absolutely lapped the field in 2024, crushing a record-breaking 51 dogs and buns in just 10 minutes during the iconic Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. She is now the first woman to eclipse the 50-mark in the competition.

MORE: Why Joey Chestnut isn’t in the 2024 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

Sudo broke her own record of 48-and-a-half hot dogs set in 2020 and smashed her 2023 performance of 39-and-a-half. This was Sudo’s 10th Nathan’s win, and her 10th straight that she participated in (Sudo did not compete in 2021 as she was out due to her pregnancy).

Why Joey Chestnut isn’t in the 2024 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

Here’s why you won’t see the legendary competitive eater this year.

Are you tuning into the annual July 4th extravaganza known as the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest and wondering why you’re not seeing Joey Chestnut downing dogs as usual, breaking records along the way and winning an event he’s won so many times?

We have an answer. We did a longer explainer about the whole thing, but here’s the summary: Chestnut made a deal with Impossible Foods to promote their hot dogs made with plant-based ingredients. Because he made a promotion deal with another brand that he can’t promote — because, y’know, Nathan’s runs the event! — he was out.

Major League Eating said he wasn’t banned, but Chestnut is out. He’ll be at Fort Bliss in El Paso, downing dogs against soldiers on Thursday.

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The rules of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, explained

There’s a little more to it than just “eat as many dogs as you can in 10 minutes.” But yeah, that’s the gist.

On the Fourth of July, we come together as a nation to celebrate America. No brand understands this better than Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs.

Since 1967, albeit with occasional breaks, the company has sponsored an eating contest either on or around Independence Day. The proceedings have changed, as have the prizes and the fame that follows the event. The premise remains the same: Whoever eats the most hot dogs wins.

Since Takeru Kobayashi’s incredible 2001 debut, that’s meant putting down at least 50 hot dogs and buns (HDBs) in a ludicrously short timeline (10 minutes, down from 12 after the 2007 contest).

But there’s a little more to the competition than showing up and chowing down. The Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest has some strict rules that must be followed to complete one dedicated gurgitator’s quest for the mustard yellow (or pink, in the case of the women’s competition) belt.

Here’s a breakdown of what they include.

Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest: The top-10 record-holders for most eaten (all by Joey Chestnut)

A look back at the top-10 of most hot dogs eaten — it all belongs to Chestnut.

Joey Chestnut won’t be back to defend his crown at the 2024 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Well, it was the crown that he’s had for the past eight years — he was last defeated in 2015, when Matt Stonie beat him 62 to 60. But it’ll be interesting to see if someone else competing — say, Geoffrey Esper — breaks Chestnut’s record from 2021 of 76 dogs.

And if you’re here, you might be wondering: What are the records that Chestnut has set and broken over the years that he’s won? Fun fact: The top-10 of all time all belongs to him.

Let’s run through the list:

52 Major League Eating records that belong to Joey Chestnut

Hot dogs aren’t Joey Chestnut’s only specialty.

There are few traditions more American than the equal parts fascinating and disgusting art of competitive eating.

And when it comes to competitive eating, there’s one undisputed king: Joey Chestnut.

Chestnut is best known for dominating the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, which is held on July 4 at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. He’s won the men’s title 15 times, which includes every year since 2007 except for 2015 when he was upset by Matt Stonie.

But Chestnut’s record-setting eating includes more than just hot dogs. Ahead of the latest installment of the contest, here’s a rundown of all the Major League Eating world records held by Chestnut.

Who is Geoffrey Esper? 5 things to know about the Nathan’s Hot Dog contest newest favorite

Everything you want to know about Geoff Esper as he chows down on hot dogs

If you’re just tuning into the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog contest and wondering why all the talk is about Geoff Esper and not Joey Chestnut, you’ve come to the right place.

For starters, Chestnut is not in this year’s competition. The competitive eating star and Major League Eating started beefing (sorry, not sorry) over Chestnut’s sponsorship with Impossible Foods to promote a plant-based hot dog. Understandably, that was not going to fly in an all-beef wiener contest.

With Chestnut out of this year’s competition, that made Esper the clear favorite to win at most sportsbooks.

Which brings us back to our original question: Who is Geoff Esper?

Let’s get you caught up with these five facts.

1. Geoff Esper is a 49-year-old school teacher

Teacher by day, competitive eater also by day.

Esper, who hails from Oxford, Massachusetts teaches electronics at Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School in Charlton about 60 miles west of Boston.

2. Esper holds 19 Major League Eating record

The list of Esper’s accomplishments is certainly impressive — among other adjectives.

Some of his records just don’t even seem possible:

  • 32.25 4oz egg roles in 8 minutes
  • 17.75 Bagels with Cream Cheese in 8 minutes
  • 281 Hooters Wings in 10 minutes
  • 23.75 lbs Strawberry Shortcake in 8 minutes
  • 9.75 pounds of SPAM (from the can) in 8 minutes

We absolutely cannot advise anyone try to beat these numbers at home.

3. Esper finished second to Chestnut at the Nathan’s contest in 2023

It’s a bummer we won’t get to see these two go head-to-head again this Fourth of July. While Chestnut finished with 62, Esper ate 49 hot dogs and buns.

The race for second place may actually have been more exciting last year than Chestnut’s sprint for first. Second and fourth place were separated by just four hot dogs.

4. Esper’s personal best for hot dogs is 51

Will Esper set a new personal record this week? If not, will 51 be enough to win the famed Coney Island contest?

5. Esper has three preferred beverages when competing

Esper told Food Challenge News in February 2023 that his preference is Blue Powerade, Crystal Light Fruit Punch or warm water, but it depends on the type of food he’s eating.

Here’s what Joey Chestnut is doing on July 4th instead of the 2024 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

Joey Chestnut will be busy eating hot dogs on July 4 — just not in Coney Island.

As you found out recently, Joey Chestnut won’t be in the 2024 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, even though he’s technically not banned. And in the future, we’re getting Chestnut vs. Takeru Kobayashi, which will be neat.

But if you’re wondering what Chestnut will be up to on July 4, it doesn’t sound like he’ll be watching the event he’s not participating in.

Instead, he’ll be off to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, where he’ll do a 5-minute hot dog eating contest against soldiers, per the Associated Press and Chestnut himself on X (formerly Twitter). And Chestnut is getting Impossible Foods — his sponsorship deal with them is what caused the Nathan’s absence in the first place — involved:

Now you know!

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The Joey Chestnut and Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest controversy: Everything we know so far

Everything to know about this controversy, with Joey Chestnut out for the 2024 edition.

Seems like there’s now a chance we might not see Joey Chestnut and his record-breaking mouth and stomach at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4, an event he’s won so many times.

On Tuesday, there was an initial report that he was out. Then, there was talk that he could be in. Then, we heard from Chestnut himself, and now we’re not totally sure what’s up.

Confused? Need to catch up on the latest news? Fear not. We’re here to help explain what’s going on and give you everything we know at the moment about this whole thing.

An initial report said Joey Chestnut was out of the 2024 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

Per the New York Post, Chestnut made a deal with Impossible foods to promote a plant-based hot dog. That was a wiener too far for Major League Eating, which provided a statement to the Post that said this:

We are devastated to learn that Joey Chestnut has chosen to represent a rival brand that sells plant-based hot dogs rather than competing in the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest.

MLE and Nathan’s went to great lengths in recent months to accommodate Joey and his management team, agreeing to the appearance fee and allowing Joey to compete in a rival, unbranded hot dog eating contest on Labor Day.

For nearly two decades we have worked under the same basic hot dog exclusivity provisions. However, it seems that Joey and his managers have prioritized a new partnership with a different brand over our long-time relationship.

Joey Chestnut is an American hero. We would love nothing more than to have him at the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. We hope he returns when he is not representing a rival brand.

Then, there was talk that he wasn’t banned from the contest

In other words: he’s not banned for life. But he’s ineligible thanks to this deal he has with a rival brand, and that makes sense given that it’s an event involving Nathan’s.

Joey Chestnut spoke out on Tuesday night on X (formerly Twitter) and claimed MLE rules have changed

What’s next for him?

Sounds like he’s out from the Nathan’s event, but perhaps we’ll continue to see him at other eating contests.

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