Photo: Getty Images North America
As the country gets prepared to celebrate the United States 249th birthday, Coney Island will be preparing for the return of what we fought against all those years ago… a king. Joey Chestnut, 16-time champion of Nathan’s hot dog eating contest, will return this year after a 1-year hiatus following a ban for a partnership deal he signed with a Nathan’s competitor. George Shea, Co-Founder of Major League Eating and host of the hot dog eating contest, spoke about the return of Chestnut this 4th of July.
“It was unfortunate that he wasn’t there last year, I wanted him to be there as we all did,” Shea told host Larry Mendte. “I think it sets everyone up for a truly triumphant return to Coney Island.”
Shea set scene for this year’s contest: “Miki Sudo, the female winner, will be defending her title and her record of 51 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes…Patrick [Bertoletti] ate 58 hot dogs and buns and he is the reigning champion.”