Top dog chomps down 72 wieners
Joey “Jaws” Chestnut captured his 10th Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest title in Coney Island Tuesday breaking his own record in a performance he insisted wasn’t even his best effort.
Chestnut (right) devoured 72 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, besting Carmen “The Mutiny” Cincotti, of Mays Landing, NJ, who ate a mere 68 dogs.
Earlier in the day, Miki Sudo (below) won her fourth consecutive women’s belt. The Las Vegas sausage queen downed a career-best 41 hot dogs, topping her 2016 winning effort of 38 ½.
Sudo and Chestnut both won $10,000 first-place prizes for their glorious gluttony.
Chestnut, from San Jose, Calif., has won the Mustard Belt in 10 of the past 11 years — a remarkable run interrupted only by Matt “Megatoad” Stonie, who topped Jaws inn 2015.
Stonie came in third place Tuesday, downing 48 hot dogs.
Chestnut, who set a record last year with 70 dogs, insisted he can do better than 72.
“I slowed down quite a bit, I was sweating like a mad dog,” he said. “I know I can do better. “Next year, if I come back, you can bet I’ll be pushing harder.” Chestnut came into Tuesday’s competition as an overwhelming 1-to-6 favorite, according to off-shore bookies. “I’m really happy that I got the win,” he said. “I need to figure out how to not sweat so much. I’ll figure it out. I’ll make my body work bette.” In the women’s event, Michelle Lesco of Tucson, Ariz, finished second with 32 ½ hot dogs. Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas devoured 31 hot dogs for third place.
Thomas had won the first three Nathan’s women’s contests, from 2011 through 2013, before Sudo began her run of hot-dog dominance.
“I’m going to have to watch out for her,” Sudo said.
The women’s champ’s ultimate goal is to break Thomas’ Coney Island women’s record of 45 hot dogs, set in 2012.
“Sonya still holds the record . . . that is something to look forward to,” Sudo said.
Meanwhile, five animalrights protesters were arrested just a few feet away from competitors. Reps for Direct Action Everywhere claimed responsibility.