Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest has a new champion as Pat Bertoletti ate 58 hot dogs.
Bertoletti's victory comes as Americans across the country celebrate Independence Day. Thousands of fans flocked to Conley Island to watch contestants devour as many hot dogs (and buns) as possible in a 10-minute span during the hot dog eating contest.
However, this year's list of competitors did not lack one high-profile contestant: 16-time champion Joey Chestnut.
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Patrick Bertoletti wins the men's title with 58 hot dogs at the Nathan's Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4, 2024 in New York City. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)
He was reportedly banned from competing in this year's event. Chestnut recently signed a deal with Impossible Foods, a rival of Nathan's that has launched a vegan sausage, the The New York Post reported.
JOEY CHESTNUT PREPARES FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY HOT DOG COMPETITION AGAINST HUNGRY SOLDIERS
Instead, he will compete against soldiers at a U.S. Army base in El Paso, Texas, starting at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Chestnut's absence left the traditional Brooklyn event wide open for a new winner in the men's division, with diners from around the world vying for the coveted mustard belt.
Joey Chestnut, winner of the 2021 Nathan's Famous 4th of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest, poses for photos at Coney Islands Maimonides Park on July 4, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/Brittainy Newman, File)
Last year, Chestnut from Indiana earned the title by devouring 62 sausages and biscuits in 10 minutes. The record, which he set in 2021, is 76.
He was initially disinvited from the event due to a sponsorship deal with Impossible Foods, a company that specializes in plant-based meat substitutes.
Hot dogs are ready for the Nathan's Famous 2024 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on July 4, 2024. (LEONARDO MUÑOZ/AFP via Getty Images)
Major League Eating, which hosts the Nathan's Famous contest, has since said it has reversed the ban, but Chestnut decided to spend the holiday with the troops anyway.
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Chestnut said he would not return to the Coney Island pageant without an apology.
Impossible Foods will also donate to an organization that supports military families based on the number of hot dogs consumed at the event, a spokesperson said.
Fox News' Ryan Morik contributed to this report.
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