As things stand, Joey Chestnut is not allowed to compete in the 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.
The 16-time event winner recently signed a brand partnership with Impossible Foods, a rival to Nathan's. Major League Eating ruled that it cannot compete because of that agreement.
While attending Thursday's Indiana Fever-Atlanta Dream WNBA contest, Chestnut said she has “no regrets” and that it was “unfortunate” how “the contract negotiations became public.”
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Competitive eater Joey Chestnut poses with his mustard yellow championship belt during a game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Ball State Cardinals at Sanford Stadium on September 9, 2023 in Athens, Georgia. (Brandon Sloter/Sports Image/Getty Images)
Chestnut hopes the two sides can reach an agreement so they can compete in Coney Island on the Fourth of July.
“I'm really hopeful that things can be worked out. I'll be ready if we can work something out. I'll be hungry.” Chestnut said.
Meanwhile, it was announced that Chestnut will face Takeru Kobayashi, who was the king of the sport before Chestnut captured the crown, in an event broadcast on Netflix on September 2.
“I'm really excited about the Netflix contest. Kobayashi and I. He's been my biggest rival forever. I'm really excited to be able to eat against him again,” Chestnut said.
Former champion Takeru Kobayashi, right, and current champion Joey Chestnut at the official weigh-in ceremony for the famous Nathan's Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 2, 2009, in New York City. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Although Chestnut is best known for his sausage performance, his website says he travels 200 days a year competing. Thus, he holds many other records, including his 32 Bic Macs in 38 minutes, 44 Raising Cane chicken fingers in five minutes, and 61½ four-ounce pork roll sandwiches in 10 minutes.
Chestnut knocked down a protester in the 2022 event via choke, which didn't faze him one bit. Still he took down 63 dogs and buns.
Chestnut's 76 dogs and buns from the 2021 contest also remain a world record.
Joey Chestnut, left, of San Jose, California, holds the American flag and his championship belt after defeating Takeru Kobayashi of Nagano, Japan, and Patrick “Deep Dish” Bertoletti in the famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest from Nathan's on the 4th of July. , 2009, in Coney Island. (Yana Paskova/Getty Images)
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The 40-year-old, widely regarded as the GOAT of his sport, has won the contest every year but one since 2007. He was upset by Matt Stonie in the 2015 competition, but has since reeled off eight straight wins.
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