Chestnut Beats Kobayashi in OT

JOEY CHESTNUT BEATS TAKERU KOBAYASHI IN OT DOWNING 59 NATHAN’S HOT DOGS IN 10-MINUTE REGULATION

Mustard Yellow Belt Remains in the United States

New York, NY, July 4, 2008 — Joey Chestnut of San Jose, Calif., today won the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest, beating Takeru Kobayashi of Nagano, Japan in a five-dog overtime after both ate 59 Nathan's Famous hot dogs and buns in the 10-minute regulation match.

The two competitors were tied at 59 hot dogs and buns at the end of the 10-minute contest. To settle the contest, Major League Eating officials contest organizers held an overtime round. Chestnut and Kobayashi were each given a plate of five hot dogs and buns. The first one to finish their plate won the contest. Chestnut finished his plate in 50 seconds, seven seconds before Kobayashi.

"Gas is approaching $5 a gallon, tomatoes are unsafe to eat, but the Mustard Yellow Belt is on American soil. Joey Chestnut is an agent of change," said Richard Shea of Major League Eating.

The victory comes after the much anticipated rematch of Kobayashi of Japan and American champion Joey Chestnut. Kobayashi sought to regain his title as world eating champion on July 4, 2008, as he competed against Chestnut at the 93rd annual Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest on the corner of Surf and Stillwell avenues in Coney Island, NY.

In 2007, the world watched in awe as Joey Chestnut won this classic Independence Day battle, beating six-time champion Kobayashi by eating 66 hot dogs and buns in 12 minutes, and bringing the Mustard Yellow Belt back to American soil for the first time this century.

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 93-year history.

“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.

Official Results:

Joey Chestnut: 59 Takeru Kobayashi: 59 Tim Janus: 42 Pat Bertoletti: 38 Sonya Thomas: 34 Hall Hunt: 30 Bob Shoudt: 30 Juliet Lee: 29 Erik Denmark: 28 Juris Shibayama: 28 Tim Brown: 27 Eric Booker: 25.5 Patrick Vandam: 25 Rich LeFevre: 25 Crazy Legs Conti: 24 Allan Goldstein: 21 Pat Philbin: 20 Nathan Biller: 18.5 Pete Davekos: 18 Arturo Rios: 16 Kevin Ross: 14

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.