This Saturday, the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest celebrates the United States’ 250th birthday with its signature spectacle. The event comes after an eventful year for the popular competition and one of its notable participants.
In January, Nathan’s Famous, the contest sponsor, was acquired by packaged meat giant Smithfield Foods.
In a separate development, reigning men’s champion and record-holder Joey Chestnut faced legal trouble after being accused of slapping a man in an Indiana bar. He pleaded guilty in April to a misdemeanor battery charge.
Despite these challenges, the contest continues, with Chestnut and Miki Sudo ready to defend their titles from last year in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively.
Participants aim to eat as many hot dogs and buns as possible within 10 minutes, often dunking the hot dogs in water to make them easier to consume.
Sudo is an 11-time champion and holds the women’s record with 51 hot dogs.
Chestnut has claimed the Mustard Belt 17 times and holds the men’s record of 76 hot dogs.
Although on probation for the battery case, Chestnut is permitted to travel outside Indiana.
Chestnut’s lawyer stated that the incident at the bar was a misunderstanding, and Chestnut has accepted responsibility for his actions.
The organizer of the hot dog contest, Major League Eating, which oversees the Nathan’s Famous event, confirmed that the legal case did not impact Chestnut’s eligibility to compete.
This event, which dates back to 1972, takes place in front of the original Nathan’s Famous restaurant on New York’s Coney Island.
