Joey Chestnut Aims for Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Comeback
Joey Chestnut is back in the game. At a weigh-in event on Thursday, the competitive eating icon expressed his determination to reclaim his title at Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, a competition he missed last year due to a sponsorship conflict with a vegan hot dog brand.
“My body feels amazing,” Chestnut, 41, stated confidently before stepping on the scale, which read 238 pounds. “Some days, you wake up and your body is not cooperating, but I feel like everything is going well today.”
Standing at 6 feet 1 inch tall, Chestnut declared, “I should be able to get that title back,” as he prepared for the iconic event held at Hudson Yards in Manhattan.
Last year, Chestnut was dethroned by Patrick Bertoletti from Chicago after being barred from the contest. The reason? A deal with Impossible Foods, which had recently introduced a plant-based hot dog.
Despite the previous year's challenges, Chestnut remains optimistic. “We didn’t burn any bridges. I love this event. I was willing to keep talking and I’m happy we figured it out,” he remarked regarding his situation with Major League Eating.
Chestnut even hinted at the possibility of breaking his own record of 76 hot dogs consumed in just 10 minutes. “That’s possible, it’s possible,” he said, acknowledging that achieving such a feat requires perfect conditions. “I am hoping to find a really, really ridiculous rhythm tomorrow…and just keep going.”
Bertoletti, who won last year by devouring 58 hot dogs, welcomed Chestnut's return. “It’s extra motivation. It didn’t feel right last year with him not being there,” he noted, weighing in at 230 pounds and standing 6 feet 2 inches tall. “You wouldn’t want to bet against me or Joey.”
While the weigh-in is often seen as ceremonial, organizers emphasize that weight does not directly correlate with success in competitive eating. Some experts suggest that leaner competitors may have an advantage due to better stomach expansion capacity.
Chestnut holds the record for the most hot dogs eaten in the contest's history, having consumed 76 in 10 minutes during the Fourth of July event in 2021. This year’s contest is set to take place at Nathan’s Famous flagship restaurant located at Surf and Stillwell avenues in Coney Island from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
