What did you eat yesterday for Fourth of July? Never mind — whatever it was was certainly eclipsed by the contestants in the annual Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island: Joey “Jaws” Chestnut took home the official trophy with 62 franks (short of his 2009 record of 68), while “Black Widow” Sonya Thomas choked down 40 dogs, making her queen among the ladies, now that they’re allowed to compete. However, just a few miles away on a Manhattan rooftop, rogue frank eater Takeru Kobayashi, who couldn’t compete officially since he refuses to sign an exclusive contract with Major League Eating, bested everyone in a splinter event, devouring a possible world-record-setting 69 tube steaks. And the renegade champion boasted to the Daily News that he hasn’t even hit his peak: “I think I could go up to 90 or 85.” See video of that feat below.
Nathan’s Fourth of July hot dog eating contest: Joey Chestnut wins 5th straight with Kobayashi out [NYDN]
