Chestnut chews 69 hotdogs to net $10k and take title
The man known as “Jaws” wolfed down the sausages and buns to win the Fourth of July contest.
He takes home $10,000 and a mustard-yellow champion’s belt.
The total beat his personal best by one.
Last year, he won the competition with 62 hotdogs.
Second place went to Matt Stone with 51 hotdogs.
Mr Chestnut has now overtaken his former rival, Takeru Kobayashi, with seven wins in a row.
Mr Kobayashi competed in a different eating contest yesterday.
Chestnut had said his pace has been uneven in the past, but “this year I’m trying to eat a little more gracefully, conserve my energy.”
Sonya “Black Widow” Thomas eked out a narrow victory in the women’s race by eating nearly 37 hotdogs.
Thomas said the challenge of shovelling down dozens of franks is actually “more mental than physical”.
Now in its 98th year, the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest draws crowd of thousands to marvel at contestants cramming frankfurters down their throats.
