He’s the top dog!
Joey “Jaws” Chestnut scarfed down a record-breaking 72 franks in 10 minutes to earn his 10th win at Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4. The defending champ kept his closest competitor Carmen Cincotti at bay by ten dogs, but the prolific hot dog muncher insists the performance was not even his best.
“I slowed down quite a bit. I was sweating like a mad dog,” Chestnut told ESPN. “It was a great performance but I know I can do better. Next year, if I come back, you can bet I’ll be pushing harder.”
Chestnut managed to cram two extra dogs down his gullet to squeak past his 70-dog record last year and left his rival Matt “Megatoad” Stonie in the dust.
The pair have feuded since Stonie broke Chestnut’s winning streak in 2015 and left him hungry for revenge.
But Stonie lost the coveted Mustard Yellow International Belt back to Chestnut last year and this time around only managed to place third with a mere 48 wieners.
Relative newcomer Carmen Cincotti was hot on Chestnut’s tail with 62 dogs and vowed to beat the champ of the chomp next year as he exited the stage.
In the ladies event, Miki Sudo won her fourth-straight title putting away 41 franks, breaking her previous record of 38.5.
But not everyone reveled in the glorious gluttony, and for the second year in a row animal rights protestors tried to derail the show with shouts, banners, and an attempted to storm the stage.
Five protesters were cuffed just feet from the competitors and hauled away by police during the feast.
Meanwhile, activists with the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals dressed as Uncle Sam passed out vegetarian hot dogs to the crowd.
