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The legend of Joey Chestnut continues.
Chestnut is now an 18-time Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest champion after blowing away the competition once again, this time by downing 66 hot dogs and buns in Coney Island.
This is now the 10th time Chestnut has won the competition; he was banned from the 2024 event due to sponsorship issues.
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Joey Chestnut wins the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest and eats 70.5 hot dogs at Coney Island on July 4, 2025 in New York City. (Bobby Bank/Getty Images)
Chestnut didn’t run away with it early as he was neck and neck with 2024 champion Patrick Bertoletti and James Webb through the first 90 seconds.
But as that time passed, Chestnut began to stretch away from the competition. Through three minutes, Chestnut was at 28, while Webb was at 22 and Bertoletti at 21. But at the halfway mark, Chestnut had eaten 42 hot dogs and had a 10-wiener lead.
Joey Chestnut prepares to compete in the men’s competition at Nathan’s Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4, 2025 in New York City. Joey Chestnut returns to the Nathan’s Famous 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest to compete for a 17th victory after missing the 2024 event due to a sponsorship dispute with Major League Eating. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)
JOEY CHESTNUT REJECTS FOODS HE WON’T EAT IN COMPETITION AS HE TOURS MINOR LEAGUE STADIUMS FOR LOCAL DELIGHTS
Chestnut remained on record pace (76) with four minutes remaining, but like all eating contests, fatigue and full bellies set in to go along with nearly triple-digit heat. Chestnut hit the 60 mark with 60 seconds left, and the officials counted his 66 afterward.
He admitted he knew he wouldn’t get the record early on but remained calm to take home the win.
Chestnut attended the event while serving a 180-day suspended sentence after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor stemming from drunkenly slapping a man in an Indiana bar earlier this year. He was given permission to travel to New York for the event.
Joey Chestnut wins the men’s competition at Nathan’s Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York City on July 4, 2025. He returned to compete for a 17th win after missing the 2024 event due to a sponsorship dispute with Major League Eating. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)
Miki Sudo won the women’s event earlier in the day with 39 dogs and buns; she has won each of the 12 contests she has entered, with her first way back in 2014.
