Joey Chestnut retains hot dog title, sets record
Photo credit: Getty | Joey Chestnut of San Jose, California (C) smiles while stuffing hot dogs into his mouth next to his opponent, Takeru Kobayashi of Nagano, Japan (R) during Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest on July 4, 2009 in Coney Island in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Chestnut defeated Kobayashi with eating 68 to his 64.5 hotdogs. Kobayashi won six previous competitions before tying last year with Chestnut.
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Joey Chestnut chomped down a record 68 hotdogs,capturing his third straight July Fourth hot-dog eating contest atConey Island, an annual showcase for flamboyant hot doggingcontestants eager to show they really are what they eat.
Chestnut of San Jose, Calif., hoisted the American flag and thenstood proudly like an Olympic athlete as "The Star-SpangledBanner" played following his 68 to 64 1/2 dog victoryover hisarchrival, six-time titleholder Takeru Kobayashi.
As soon as he knew he had won, he shot his right fist into theair, his mouth still bulging while he chewed the last of hiswieners at Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot DogEating Contest.
"This is great," Chestnut told ESPN, which broadcast the10-minute contest live. "After the second minute, I knew that mybody was cooperating and it was going to be hard to beat me."
The 25-year-old Chestnut led most of the way, seemingly coastingto victory in contrast to last year, when he and his Japanese rivalboth gobbled 59 hot dogs, forcing a dramatic five hot dog eat-offbefore Chestnut emerged victorious.
His lead was a contrast to 2005, when Kobayashi trouncedChestnut 49 dogs to 32 dogs. And the number of dogs consumed showedhow far the contest has come since the first one in 1916, when 13dogs were enough to win. Even by 2000, 25 dogs secured victory.
On Saturday, Chestnut and Kobayashi far outpaced their closestcompetitor, third-place finisher Patrick Bertoletti, who downed 55frankfurters.
Showboating for the cameras prior to the contest, 19 contestantswere introduced individually with the kind of fanfare normallyreserved for the start of a professional sports championship.
Under sunny skies and with a giant blowup Heintz ketchupcontainer at the side of the stage, the contestants got off to astart they could relish.
Kobayashi had a slight lead at the eight-dog mark after thefirst minute, but Chestnut pulled ahead seconds later. The leadchanged hands several more times before Chestnut went in front forgood with about seven minutes left.
At the five-minute mark, Chestnut led 42 dogs to 40 dogs as heand Kobayashi, standing side by side, alternately stuffing hot dogsand sips of water into their mouths, excess liquid and specks offood invariably dribbling down their faces.
Kobayashi was wearing a T-shirt that included autographs fromJapanese Olympic athletes.
With a minute to go, Chestnut led 63 dogs to 61 dogs and wasahead 66 to 64 with 10 seconds left.
"I knew I had the capacity for 70-plus hot dogs. Once Irealized I had cushion, it helped me keep my pace and keep itsafely," he told ESPN.
He noted that no matter how high the dog-eating record goes,Kobayashi is at his side.
"Kobayashi came out wanting to win. He ate the most he everhas," he said.
The champion said he planned to celebrate his victory Saturdaynight with a lighter touch: a cobb salad with ranch dressing.
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