Joey Chestnut secured his 18th Mustard Belt by eating 66 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. The Brooklyn crowd watched him power through a 100-degree heat index at the original Nathan’s Famous on Surf Avenue. He has not lost a July 4th contest since 2015.
The humidity drained the athletes entirely. Competitors struggled against the blistering conditions across Coney Island as Chestnut built an insurmountable lead. Thousands of spectators jammed the streets. The overflow crowd pushed out toward the secondary Nathan’s Famous location on the Riegelmann Boardwalk to watch the broadcast.
Miki Sudo completely dominated the women’s division earlier in the day. She claimed her 12th consecutive title by consuming 38.75 hot dogs. She finished well ahead of runner-up Michelle Lesco, who managed 22. Sudo has won every single Coney Island event she has entered.
Chestnut’s return to the top step firmly closes the door on his brief 2024 absence. A temporary ban over a rival vegan brand sponsorship sidelined him two years ago. Now? He is back on the Surf Avenue stage holding another title.