Joey Chestnut proved once again why he’s considered the greatest in competitive eating, devouring 70.5 hot dogs and buns on Friday to clinch his 17th victory at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.
This year’s triumph marks Chestnut’s return to the iconic July 4th event after sitting out in 2024 due to a sponsorship dispute.
Chestnut’s performance left little doubt about his dominance. He outpaced runner-up Patrick Bertoletti by a staggering margin, with Bertoletti managing 46.5 hot dogs and buns compared to Chestnut’s 70.5.
The absence in 2024 stemmed from Chestnut’s partnership with Impossible Foods, which conflicted with Nathan’s rules prohibiting contestants from promoting rival brands.
During his ban, Chestnut didn’t rest. Instead, he squared off against longtime rival Takeru Kobayashi in a special Netflix event, where he set a personal best of 83 hot dogs, crushing Kobayashi’s 66.
Heading into Friday’s contest, Chestnut hoped to break his own Nathan’s record of 76 hot dogs, set in 2021. At the five-minute mark, he was slightly behind pace with 46 hot dogs and eventually finished strong but fell short of surpassing his milestone.
Since 2007, Chestnut has won all but two Nathan’s contests — falling to Matt Stonie in 2015 and missing the 2024 event due to his ban. His streak of victories cements his status as the undisputed king of competitive eating.
After reclaiming his crown, Chestnut confirmed he intends to return for the 2026 competition, aiming to extend his remarkable legacy even further.
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