Famous competitive eater Joey Chestnut, winner of 16 of the last 17 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contests, has been banned from defending his title this July 4 because of a deal he signed with a rival company.
Mr. Chestnut is the defending champion of the annual contest, having scarfed down 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes. He won every year from 2007 through 2014, and again from 2016 through 2023. He came in second in 2015 and 2006.
He is now representing Impossible Foods, which makes plant-based alternatives to meat products, including hot dogs, according to the New York Post.
Since Impossible Foods is a direct competitor to Nathan’s, Mr. Chestnut will not be competing at the 2024 contest, said Major League Eating, which runs the contest for Nathan’s.
“We are devastated to learn that Joey Chestnut has chosen to represent a rival brand that sells plant-based hot dogs rather than competing … it seems that Joey and his managers have prioritized a new partnership with a different hot dog brand over our long-time relationship,” the organization said in a social media statement.
The organization added that it had accommodated other requests from Mr. Chestnut, including letting him appear at a Labor Day hot dog eating contest that is not branded. The group also left room for Mr. Chestnut to make a return when he does not represent another hot dog brand.
“Joey Chestnut is an American hero. We would love nothing more than to have him at [the contest] which he has dominated for years,” added Major League Eating, which oversees professional eating competitions.
Another famous former competitor, Takeru Kobayashi, recently retired from competitive eating altogether. He won the Nathan’s contest from 2002 through 2006, when Mr. Chestnut came in second, and then came in second to Mr. Chestnut from 2007 to 2009.
After 2009, Mr. Kobayashi stopped participating in the contest because he did not want to sign exclusively with Major League Eating, according to Front Office Sports.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.