Chestnut Beats Kobayashi, Brings Mustard Yellow Belt Back to America

Joey Chestnut of San Jose, Calif., today won the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest, beating former champion Takeru Kobayashi and setting a new world record by downing 66 Nathan’s Famous hot dogs and buns in 12 minutes.

Kobayashi, the six-time hot dog-eating world champion, arrived at the 2007 event with a jaw injury. He reportedly received therapy on the jaw until two hours before the contest and appeared to compete at 100 percent — he ate 63 HDBs, eight more than his personal best.

Many thought Kobayashi would be unable to compete, or that he would compete at a lower level of intensity. In fact, he and Joey were neck and neck until the final moments of the contest.

The Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest has been held each year since 1916, according to archives. This year’s contest may have been the most highly anticipated match-up in the event’s storied 92-year history. Police reported that nearly 50,000 people attended the event in Coney Island.

“Nothing represents summer and the Fourth of July like the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog-Eating Contest,” said Wayne Norbitz, president and COO of Nathan’s Famous. “This year our nation has new hope for glory.”

Official Results

Joey Chestnut: 66 Takeru Kobayashi: 63 Pat Bertoletti: 49 Tim "Eater X" Janus: 43.5 Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas: 39 Bob Shoudt: 35 Chip Simpson: 35 Rich LeFevre: 31 Hall Hunt: 29 Juliet Lee: 26 Dale Boone: 25 Pat Philbin: 24 Crazy Legs Conti: 23.5 Erik "the Red" Denmark: 23 Tim Brown: 22.5 Arturo Rios, Jr.: 21 Allen Goldstein: 21

The Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest is sanctioned by the Major League Eating (MLE), the world governing body of all stomach-centric sport. The Nathan’s Famous International Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Championship has been held each year on July 4 since 1916, according to archives.