‘Jaws’ eats 74 hot dogs in 10 minutes to keep title
NEW YORK — Joey (Jaws) Chestnut extended his reign as champion eater at the Nathan’s Famous July Fourth hot dog eating contest on Wednesday, downing a record 74 wieners and buns in 10 minutes to take home the coveted Mustard Belt for an 11th time.
Miki Sudo held onto her title as the top woman’s competitor at the annual Brooklyn eat-off, chomping 37 franks and buns to take home the top prize for an unprecedented fifth consecutive year.
“I found a vicious rhythm,” 34-year-old Chestnut said after the stuffing session. “I was feeling good today.”
But while Chestnut ate 10 more dogs and buns than second-place finisher Carmen Cincotti, a judging error cast initial doubt over their totals after jurists didn’t see the eaters were taking the dogs and buns from two plates.
Eric Gonzalez, the Brooklyn district attorney, certified the final tally and Chestnut’s record of 74.
“At the end of the day, Joey Chestnut came in here and ate 74 hot dogs, broke a world record,” said Cincotti, who celebrated his 26th birthday on Wednesday. “Apparently, they were good dogs.”
Sudo fell short of the 41 hot dogs she consumed last year, but easily beat out second-place finisher Mischelle Lesco, of Tuscon, Arizona, who chowed down 28 wieners and buns.
Thousands of spectators, many donning mustard-coloured hot dog caps, braved scorching temperatures to witness the annual competition on the Coney Island boardwalk.
The outlandish tradition dates back to 1972, although the company has long promoted what a former president acknowledged was a legendary start date of 1916.
Fan Martha Pleasant, 41, of Franklin, New Jersey, said she was attending the competitive eating competition to support her husband Dwight, who “loves wieners.”
“We are trying to knock something off my hubby’s bucket list,” she said.