annual Nathan’s famous hot dog eating contest

By Chellie Cervone - Posted: Jul 5, 2012 at 10:50 pm

It’s been said that you can’t really call yourself a New Yorker unless you’ve eaten a Nathan’s Famous hot dog. For Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, the San Jose native certainly earns the title of honorary New Yorker for winning the annual Nathan’s famous hot dog eating contest for the 6th time in row

Joey “Jaws” Chestnut won the annual Nathan’s famous hot dog eating contest, held at the flagship Nathan’s restaurant in Coney Island, by eating 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes. The professional eating champ won $10,000 for his efforts and a mustard champion’s belt.

Chestnut said of his win, “I’m looking forward to next year already.”

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Chestnut now ties the record with his former rival, Takeru Kobayashi, who left Major League Eating in 2010. They now each have 6 wins.

contests eating hot dogs during the 2012 annual Nathan's hot dog eating contest

Nathan’s annual hot dog contest(Photo source: ABCNews)

Kobayashi was involved in a disagreement with the contest organizers two years ago. He refused to sign an exclusive contract with Major League Eating, the food equivalent of the NFL and was subsequently banned from participating in the competition. That didn’t stop him though. He showed up wearing a T-shirt that said ”Free Kobi” rushed the stage and was arrested, with the charges later dropped. Last year, the Japanese native nicknamed the ”Tsunami” held an unofficial contest from a rooftop on New York’s famed Fifth Avenue, eating near a giant plasma TV airing the official competition live.

At the 2011 contest, he ate 69 hot dogs. This year in the Crif Hot Dog Classic, Kobayashi ate 68 and a half hot dogs and won $15,000.

Kobayashi continues to make headlines claiming that Major League Eating, “owns the eaters”.

Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas, from Alexandria, Va., defended her title in the women’s competition, eating 45 hot dogs, five more than she did last year.

The annual Nathan’s famous hot dog eating contest has been a holiday tradition for 97 years.

The contest requires eaters to consume the entire hot dog and bun and any “reversal of fortune,” Major League Eating’s term for vomiting, results in an automatic disqualification.