July 4 (UPI) — Joey Chestnut continued a Fourth of July tradition — winning Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island’s famed Boardwalk in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Chestnut, 33, of San Jose, Calif, earned his 10th title Tuesday eating an event-record 72 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Carmen Cincott, of Mays Landing, N.J., finished far behind with 62. That number tied the amount consumed by Matt “The Megatoad” Stonie, 24, when he ended Chestnut’s eight-year winning streak two years ago.
Stonie finished third Tuesday, with 48 franks and buns. Stonie is also from San Jose, Calif.,
Last year, Chestnut, known as “Jaws,” ate his way back to the title by chowing down a then-record 70 hot dogs and buns in the 100th anniversary of the event.
“I didn’t do what I wanted to do,” Chestnut, 33, said Tuesday on ESPN after the event. “I am happy.”
Chestnut averaged more than seven hot dogs per minute but at the onset was around nine per minute.
“I slowed down quite bit,” he said. “I was sweating like a mad dog. It was a great but I knew I could do better.”
Chestnut, who weighed in at 221 pounds Monday, said, “I treat eating like a sport. It’s not like going to a buffet. I make my body work for me.”
In 2007, Chestnut dethroned Takeru Kobayashi, from Japan, who had won six titles in a row.
Kobayashi dramatically increased the profile of the event in 2001 when he ate 50 hot dogs and buns — doubling the previous record. He hasn’t competed since 2009 due to a refusal to sign an exclusive deal with Major League Eating.
Chestnut won his first title in 2007 when the contest lasted 12 minutes. The next year 2 minutes were shaved from the event.
In the women’s competition, Mikie Sudo, 31 and weighing 126 pounds, won her fourth title in a row by eating 41 hot dogs and buns. Second place Michelle Lesco of Tucson, Ariz., ate 32 dogs.
Last year, the Las Vegas resident polished down 38 1/2 dogs, beating out three-time winner Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas, of Alexandria, Va., with 35.
The event was televised live on ESPN2.
In 1916, Polish immigrant Nathan Handwerker opened a nickel hot dog stand on Coney Island with a $300 loan from two friends. It’s still there at Surf and Stillwell.
