Joey Chestnut Consumes 59 1/2 Hot Dogs at Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest

It’s not the 4th of July if one does not watch the hot dog eating carnage known as Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island, NY. For the third year in a row, Joey Chestnut won the hot dog eating rights and the Mustard yellow champions belt.

59–1/2 hot dogs consumed in 10 minutes. Don’t forget the buns as well. One has to love the spectacle that this event has become. It is literally the Suer Bowl, World Series and World Cup of the competitive eating world. If you can watch it without getting ill, it is a must see event.

He defeated his archrival, six-time titleholder Takeru Kobayashi, in Saturday’s bout. Chestnut led throughout the contest.

Last year’s event initially ended in a tie, with Chestnut and Kobayashi both gobbling down 59 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. Chestnut went on to win a dramatic five hot dog eat-off.

Nathan’s hot dog eating contest 2009: Joey Chesnut defends title

The defending champ made it a three-peat Saturday at the 94th annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island after choking down a stomach-churning 68 franks in 10 minutes – a new world record.

“I’ve been practicing hard,” Chestnut said after the dog-off.

“I knew it would be hard to beat me.”