Time: 2024-07-04
The Fourth of July holiday is approaching, and many are gearing up for the Nathan's Famous Hot dog Eating Contest, a longstanding tradition that draws in large crowds every year. However, this year, fans will be disappointed as Joey Chestnut, the top male champion with 15 Nathan's titles to his name, has been banned from competing. The ban comes after Chestnut signed a marketing agreement with Impossible Foods, a rival of Nathan's. Despite this setback, Chestnut remains optimistic about potentially returning to the contest in the future.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Chestnut revealed that Major League Eating altered the terms of his agreement regarding endorsing other products, leading to his ban from the competition. Chestnut expressed his disappointment with the situation, citing changes made by MLE and the Shea brothers, who run the organization. Although Chestnut won't be competing at Coney Island this year, he will be participating in a five-minute hot dog eating contest against soldiers at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.
While Chestnut's absence may be felt at the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, the show must go on. Other notable competitors, such as Miki Sudo, the top female champion with 8 titles to her name, will be vying for victory in the women's competition. The event, managed by Major League Eating since 1997, will feature a lineup of talented eaters aiming to devour as many hot dogs as they can within a 10-minute period.
For those eager to catch Joey Chestnut in action, a hot dog eating battle between Chestnut and his former rival, Takeru Kobayashi, will be aired on Netflix on Labor Day weekend. The competition, titled "Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef," promises to be an exciting showdown between two legendary eaters. As the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest unfolds this year without Chestnut, fans can still look forward to the thrill of competitive eating in other formats.
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