Man Eats 13 Hot Dogs, Wins Title

Russ Bauman walked into Sabretti's for a few hot dogs Friday night

He left a champion.

Bauman, 43, scarfed 13 hot dogs to become the newest Hopatcong's Top Dog Challenge winner. The Landing resident topped the old mark of 12 set months ago by a pair of borough eaters.

Flanked by his son, Anthony, and nephew, Patrick, Bauman entered the store expecting a nice family dinner. But soon the boys were pushing him to shoot for the record.

"This wasn't planned," he said. "This was kind of a last-minute thing. And the kids were egging me on. I didn't want to back down from a challenge from the kids."

So Bauman sat and eventually earned a himself at least a temporary place in Hopatcong history. Bauman's photo will hang on Sabretti's wall until someone takes down his record. Sabretti's owner, Rohan Shetty, said eight customers tried breaking the old mark before Bauman shattered it.

Sabretti's contest isn't typical. Unlike the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest—broadcast on national TV while contestants pound as many plain dogs as possible in 10 minutes—contestants must choose hot dogs off Sabretti's menu, which features 21 different styles. They can't eat the same dog twice, and they can't use the bathroom. Finally, when a record gets broken, the winner must stick around for 10 minutes.

Shetty said the toppings are what makes his contest unique.

"That's the whole thing," he said. "I want the challenge to be a challenge as opposed to, 'Oh, this guy can just sit and eat everything.'"

Bauman, owner of Higher Strength Nutrition in Flanders, said he could have easily polished off 20 hot dogs if not for the toppings.

"To me, that was the challenge of it," he said. "You've got to pick. To me that was half the battle."

Bauman started his quest with the "Americana," heaping with ketchup, mustard, relish and raw onion. He finished with "Philly," featuring peppers, onions and cheese.

Things got tough late in the contest for the big guy.

"At about nine hot dogs I said, 'This is a bad idea,'" Bauman said.

But Bauman persevered, washing down the last three dogs with iced tea. He said his favorite was dog No. 8—the "All The Way," topped with mustard, chili and raw onions.

Bauman, who received a discount for winning the contest, said that while he enjoyed it, he probably wouldn't try breaking his own mark any time soon.

"I don't know if I can eat another hot dog again," he said.

Hopatcong's Ken Worflar won Sabretti's first hot dog eating contest at Hopatcong Days in July, eating 12. Click for the video.

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