Joey Chestnut Eats 68 Hot Dogs to Win Annual Coney Island Event
In an annual Fourth of July rite of indigestion, champion hot dog-eater Joey ‘Jaws’ Chestnut matched his own world record by chowing down 68 wieners and buns in just 10 minutes on Wednesday at New York’s Coney Island.
More than 40,000 spectators, some dressed as hot dogs, ketchup and mustard bottles, watched Chestnut out-eat his competition by almost 16 hot dogs to take home his sixth straight Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog-Eating title on the U.S. Independence Day holiday.
“I came here hoping I could do 70 (hot dogs), but I am happy with 68. It is a world record after all and I will be back next year to see if I can go one better,” said the 28-year-old Chestnut from San Jose, California.
“I pushed my body to the absolute limit. I know I did my best. Now I really need a drink to try and rehydrate.”