World Champion Competitive Eater Joey Chestnut reacts to winning the World Burrito Eating Contest with Qdoba representatives at the Beer Garden in Deer District in Milwaukee on Thursday, April 6, 2023. The event, hosted by Qdoba, coinciding with National Burrito Day, included Chestnut and other contestants competing to consume as many Qdoba burritos as possible during a 10-minute window for prize money. Burrito P1
Syndication: Journal Sentinel
(New York, NY) — The best of all-time.
Joey “Jaws” Chestnut won his 16th Mustard Belt by consuming 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes at the 2023 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4th.
Chestnut battled a lengthy weather delay, but still became this year’s world champion for the eighth straight year.
Thunderstorms in the New York area caused the two-hour delay, but it didn’t seem to affect Chestnut, who easily led his competitors. Chestnut, however, was unable to break his world record of 76 hot dogs, officially totaling 62 dogs – one fewer than the 63 he ate to win the event in 2022.
Chestnut said afterward it was a roller coaster of a day due to the severe weather.
“They told us it was canceled,” Chestnut said. “We weren’t sure we were gonna eat today. I’m just happy. It’s the 4th of July, I got to eat some hot dogs and get a win.”
“I feel great,” he added. “I’ve got leftover room, so I’ll be having some beers later.”
The 39-year-old finished 13 ahead of the runner-up, Geoffrey Esper; the race for second and third place went down to the wire, with Esper – last year’s second place winner – finishing with 49 dogs. Third place went to James Webb, with 47.
In the women’s competition, Miki Sudo continued to dominate and won her ninth career Mustard Belt with 39.5 hot dogs.
