Competitive eater Joey Chestnut was nowhere to be found at New York's Coney Island as he was forced to withdraw from the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on Thursday due to his relationship with another brand.
With the hurdles still damaged days before the competition, Chestnut took his talents to Fort Bliss, Texas, for its Fourth of July party and competed against Army soldiers.
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Joey Chestnut is congratulated after finishing in first place in the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on July 4, 2023. (Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
It showed no signs of rust.
Chestnut ate 57 hot dogs and buns, outpacing four competitors combined, who ate 49 hot dogs and buns in total.
Chestnut's mark, achieved in just five minutes, nearly surpassed that of the man who won the famous mustard belt on Thursday in New York, Pat Bertoletti. The new Nathan's champion finished with 58 hot dogs, a far cry from the record of 76 that “Jaws” Chestnut set in 2021.
Chestnut was initially banned from the competition due to a sponsorship deal with Impossible Foods, which specializes in plant-based alternatives to meat products. Major League Eating later lifted the ban, but Chestnut decided to go to Fort Bliss.
A sign supporting Joey Chestnut is seen Thursday during the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, held annually at Coney Island in New York on July 4. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
PAT BERTOLETTI IS CROWNED HOT DOG EATING CHAMPION IN THE ABSENCE OF JOEY CHESTNUT
Major League Eating CEO Rich Shea praised Chestnut during ESPN's broadcast of the Coney Island contest.
“He's a great competitor, a great guy, a grown man and a man who chose not to be here today,” Shea said. “But fortunately for us, tens of thousands of people flock to Nathan's Famous. It's a pilgrimage every year. This isn't a paid Hollywood crowd. This is excitement.”
A few hundred fans showed up in Texas to support Chestnut.
“I love you guys,” he said, while acknowledging the military service of his father, grandfather and brother. “You guys have given me a big boost, thank you so much.”
Joey Chestnut sits with the trophy and belt after winning first place, eating 63 hot dogs in 10 minutes, at the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island in New York on July 4, 2022. (Kena Betancur/Getty Images)
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The event at Fort Bliss was sponsored by Impossible Foods, although no vegan products were used in the competition. Impossible Foods CEO Peter McGuinness presented a $106,000 donation check to Operation Homefront, a charity that supports military families.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
