WASHINGTON — (CNN) Joey “Jaws” Chestnut scarfed down 70 hot dogs in 10 minutes at Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest in Coney Island Monday to break his own gustatory record and snatch the belt from defending champion Matt “The Megatoad” Stonie.
Both nerves and excitement were pretty high at the annual competition.
Chestnut walked in with plenty of hype, which included shattering his own record of downing 73 and a half hot dogs just last week in a qualifying competition.
Right out of the gate, Chestnut and Stonie laid down the law, distancing themselves away from the pack.
However, it was Chestnut who took an early lead, putting down 30 dogs in the first 3 minutes.
Stonie ranked second with 53 hot dogs eaten. Cameron Dallas rounded out the top three with 42 hot dogs.
Outside of a minor disturbance where demonstrators protesting against meat-eaters tried their best to derail a few contestants, Chestnut was the star of the show.
When it was all over, Chestnut was declared the winner eating 70 Famous Nathan’s hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.
The tremendous comeback story puts the champ back on top and in the history books for most hot dogs eaten in a Coney Island competition.
“All the naysayers actually helped me,” he told PIX11 News after competing. “I love proving people wrong.”
Victorious yet again, Chestnut vows to return next year.
In the women’s competition, defending champion Miki Sudo ate 38 hot dogs to beat out three-time winner Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas and others at this year’s Fourth of July hot dog eating contest on Coney Island’s famed boardwalk.
Thomas followed in second place with 35 hot dogs eating in 10 minutes.
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