Joey Chestnut, banned by Nathan's, has entered an alternate July 4 hot dog eating contest. How much do you know about the iconic Coney Island competition?
Test your Nathan's knowledge with our quiz.
Joey Chestnut may be banned from the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest this year, but he’ll still get to spend the Fourth of July scarfing hot dogs — just not at Coney Island.
The famed competitive eater, who was barred from Nathan’s iconic annual competition after partnering with vegan rival Impossible Foods, has accepted an invitation to compete in an alternate hot dog eating contest against soldiers in Fort Bliss, Texas, which will be sponsored by Impossible Foods. Then, on Labor Day, Chestnut will take on fellow former champion Takeru Kobayashi in a hot dog eating contest that will be streamed on Netflix.
Major League Eating, organizer of the annual July 4 event in Coney Island, said it was “devastated to learn that Joey Chestnut has chosen to represent a rival brand that sells plant-based hot dogs rather than competing in the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest.”
Chestnut — who first competed in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in 2007 — said that he has “been training to defend” his champion title this summer.
“I was very disappointed to learn from the media today that after nearly 20 years I am banned from the Nathan’s 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest,” Chestnut wrote in an Instagram post on June 11. “To set the record straight, I do not have a contract with MLE or Nathan’s and they are looking to change the rules from past years as it relates to other partners I can work with.”
A similar situation occurred in 2010 when then defending champion Kobayashi didn’t compete in the contest due to a reported contract dispute with Major League Eating.
The famed Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest airs July 4, with women competing at 10:45 a.m. ET on ESPN 3 and the men's competition starting at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN 2. Get excited by testing your knowledge on all things wieners and franks.
