Just as predicted, the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest at New York’s Coney Island has a new champion. Joey Chestnut of San Jose, Ca, consumed a new World Record 66 hot dogs in 12 minutes time preventing six time winner Takeru Kobayashi of Japan from extending his record to seven at the July 4th event.
Oddsmakers at online sportsbook, Sportsbook.com offered odds of 4/5 on Chestnut’s chances of winning the title. With the win, Chestnut’s backers at the virtual wagering window cashed $400 on a $500 bet. Kobayashi went into the contest with even up 1/1 juice ($100 bet to win $100) to carry off his seventh title. Had any other competitor won it would have paid a healthy 20/1.
With the 66 Hot Dogs consumed by Chestnut, the 23 year old Californian broke his own record of 59 hot dogs in a qualifying event in early June. Before a raucous crowd, Chestnut won the contest in 12 minutes, by consuming one hot dog every 10.9 seconds.
Chestnut and Kobayashi stayed even dog per dog through the 12 minute competition but at the end, Kobayashi could not keep it all down, regurgitating a few franks and buns. Kobayashi was credited with 63 hot dogs and buns consumed topping his best career mark of 53 ½.
“If I needed to eat another one right now I could,” said the stuffed Chestnut after collecting the champions Yellow Belt symbolizing the World hot dog eating king.
"This title's been held by Kobayashi for six years , so it's about time it came home," said a flag waving Chestnut following the event, "I knew going into this contest that Kobayashi was going to give 100 percent."
The win by Chestnut marks the first time a non-Japanese contestant has won the event dating back to 1996.
