Joey Chestnut did compete in a July 4th scorching dog-eating competitors in spite of everything, however not within the Coney Island contest that made him well-known.
Chestnut, the 16-time winner of Nathan’s Well-known Scorching Canine Consuming Contest, was formally banned from the annual occasion by Main League Consuming in mid-June. Their beef? He had signed an endorsement take care of Inconceivable Meals, which makes plant-based proteins.
Whereas Main League Consuming has since mentioned it walked again its ban, in accordance with the Related Press, Chestnut has mentioned he will not return to their stage on the nook of Surf and Stillwell avenues with out an apology.
The world’s main aggressive eater as a substitute battled a gaggle of troopers on the Fort Bliss military base in El Paso, Texas, in a patriotic efficiency for charity that was streamed dwell on his YouTube channel and adopted by a “Meat and Greet.”
“For the primary time anyplace, particularly right here at Fort Bliss, now we have the final word scorching dog-eating problem,” roared an emcee carrying an American flag-patterned polo shirt. “5 minutes, all-beef scorching canine, one man towards 4 of the Military’s most interesting.”
Chestnut, who mentioned onstage that his grandfather, uncles, father and brother all served within the U.S. Military, confronted off towards 4 troopers competing as a group.
The 2 tables have been almost neck and neck for a lot of the 5 minutes, but it surely was Chestnut who finally prevailed. As greater than 18,000 viewers at residence watched, and a horde of in-person spectators chanted his title and “USA,” Chestnut downed 57 scorching canine and buns to high his opponents’ 49.
“I like you guys, thanks a lot. I am so blissful to be right here,” Chestnut mentioned afterward as he hoisted up his hard-earned, gold-plated belt. “I used to be hustling to start with and I slowed down a bit bit — for a second I believed I’d have the ability to hit 60, however you guys pushed me arduous. Thanks a lot.”
In an particularly meaty twist, Chestnut ate nearly as many scorching canine because the winner of the Nathan’s Well-known Scorching Canine Consuming Contest did earlier that very same day, some 2,000 miles away, however in half the period of time.
Chestnut mentioned he had damaged his earlier document of 55 scorching canine in 5 minutes. The 40-year-old holds over 50 world data for aggressive consuming (and never only for frankfurters), together with a stomach-turning 76 scorching canine and buns in 10 minutes at Coney Island in 2021.
When requested at Fort Bliss what he may have completed with 10 minutes, Chestnut replied, “I used to be on document tempo … however ultimately I will make a brand new document anyhow.”
Inconceivable Meals — which formally introduced its partnership with Chestnut earlier this week — pledged to donate $1,000 for each scorching canine eaten to Operation Homefront, a nonprofit that helps army households. That added as much as $106,000.
Chestnut might have been voted off the island, however he is nonetheless hungry
Chestnut’s absence loomed over Coney Island on Thursday morning and afternoon, as 14 ladies and 14 males stuffed their faces in two separate, fast-paced faceoffs. Inconceivable Meals aired a number of advertisements (for rooster nugget alternate options) on ESPN because it aired, a part of its effort to market to meat eaters.
Among the many ladies, defending champion Miki Sudo of Florida downed 51 scorching canine in 10 minutes to assert the medal and a brand new world document, whereas Chicago’s Patrick Bertoletti scarfed down 58 to turn into simply the third man to assert victory since Chestnut’s successful streak began in 2007 (he was defeated simply as soon as, by Matt Stonie in 2015).
Chestnut informed USA At the moment earlier within the week that he hoped to devour extra scorching canine and buns in 5 minutes than the Nathan’s winner may in 10, including, “I feel 56 is doable.” He completed one minute above that aim, and two wanting beating Bertoletti.
Fort Bliss’ official account on X (previously Twitter) publicly invited Chestnut to a scorching canine consuming contest in a submit on June 25, about two weeks after his Coney Island ban made headlines.
Chestnut responded 4 days later that he was headed to El Paso on the 4th “to do what I do finest, army fashion,” and prolonged an invitation of his personal to Inconceivable Meals.
“Whereas I am crushing scorching canine do y’all wanna include and assist feed the hungry crowd?” he added.
An Inconceivable Meals spokesperson informed NPR over e-mail that, although Chestnut was consuming actual beef within the competitors, they accepted his invitation and arrange a “VIP sampling tent” on the base.
In addition they flew airplane banners in Miami and Los Angeles urging folks to “Watch Joey Eat.”
And greater than 113,000 YouTube viewers have, at the very least as of Friday morning.
Those that need one other likelihood to look at Chestnut at work can tune into Netflix on Sept. 2, when Chestnut will go head-to-head along with his archrival Takeru Kobayashi for the primary time in 15 years.