California's Joey Chestnut Sets World Hot Dog Eating Record

CONEY ISLAND, NY - San Jose's Joey "Jaws" Chestnut set a new hot dog-eating world record Wednesday in the 2018 Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island, according to Major League Eating, the world body that oversees professional eating.

The contest, with separate divisions for men and women, took place between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Nathan's Famous flagship restaurant at the corner of Surf and Stillwell avenues in Brooklyn.

Miko Sudo of Las Vegas, Nevada, successfully defended her women's title by eating 37 hotdogs in 10 minutes. Runner-up Michelle Lesco of Tucson, Arizona, ate 28.

With his win, Chestnut successfully defended his title too. Chestnut consumed 74 hot dogs in 10 minutes. The previous record was 73, also by Chestnut, who is a native of Vallejo. Chestnut's new archrival Carmen Cincotti of Newark, New Jersey, was expected to win the men's division this year, but managed to eat only 64 hot dogs to place second.

Some 30,000 fans were expected to attend the event, which has happened every Fourth of July on Coney Island since 1916, according to Major League Eating.

The prize in each contest was $20,000.

— Bay City News; Photo: NEW YORK, NY - JULY 04: Joey Chestnut reacts after competing during the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4, 2018 in the Coney Island neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Joey Chestnut won the contest, eating a Coney Island record 74 hot dogs in 10 minutes. (Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)