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The iconic Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest is set to take place in 2025 with competitive eating champion Joey Chestnut making a highly anticipated return to Coney Island. After missing the 2024 event, Chestnut is eager to reclaim his title as the top hot dog eater.
His absence last year was due to a conflict related to his partnership with Impossible Foods. Despite this setback, Chestnut has confirmed that he has reached an understanding with contest organizers regarding sponsorships, allowing him to compete once more.
In a heartfelt post on social media platform X, Chestnut expressed his excitement, stating, “I’m thrilled to be returning to the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. This event means the world to me. It’s a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life.” He added, “While I have and continue to partner with a variety of companies, including some in the plant-based space, those relationships were never a conflict with my love for hot dogs. I would like to clarify that Nathan’s is the only hot dog company I’ve worked with.”
Chestnut’s passion for the event remains unwavering. Acknowledging his previous conflict, he stated, “I respect that there were differences in interpretation, but I’m grateful we’ve been able to find common ground. I’m excited to be back on the Coney Island stage, doing what I live to do, and celebrating the Fourth of July with hot dogs in my hands! Stay hungry!” This declaration demonstrates his commitment to the competition and his fans.
As anticipation builds for the 2025 contest, sportsbooks currently favor Chestnut overwhelmingly. His challengers, however, remain undeterred. The reigning champion from last year, Patrick Bertoletti, impressed audiences by consuming 58 hot dogs in just 10 minutes. Nevertheless, Bertoletti faces daunting odds against Chestnut, who aims to secure his 17th title.
If successful, this victory would further extend Chestnut’s legendary record at Nathan’s contest, which stands as a testament to his unparalleled skills in competitive eating.
Despite not participating in last year’s official competition, Chestnut showcased his talents in a separate event entitled “Unfinished Beef,” where he battled another competitive eating legend, Takeru Kobayashi. During this Netflix special, Chestnut managed to eat 83 hot dogs, marking a milestone for the most hot dogs consumed in competitive eating without the traditional dunking method in water.
On the women’s side, Miki Sudo is also anticipated to shine. As a three-time consecutive winner, she is on the cusp of claiming her 11th pink belt, a significant achievement in her career. However, she will face tough competition from Domenica Dee and Michelle Lesco, who ended Sudo’s win streak in 2021. This year’s contest should prove to be a thrilling confrontation between these formidable competitors.
For newcomers to the Nathan’s contest, it’s important to understand the rules. Both the men’s and women’s competitions have a strict time limit of 10 minutes. The winner is determined by who consumes the most hot dogs and buns without disqualification within that timeframe. In the rare event of a tie, the contest shifts to an untimed eat-off, where the first participant to finish a specific number of hot dogs and buns claims victory.
The last time there was an eat-off took place in 2008. During that suspenseful occasion, Chestnut demonstrated his prowess by consuming five hot dogs and buns in a remarkable 50 seconds.
This year, the women’s contest will kick off the festivities at 10:45 a.m. ET, followed by the men’s contest at noon on July 4. The excitement is palpable as fans and competitors prepare for what promises to be an unforgettable event.
Stay tuned for updates on this thrilling competition, and as always, may the best eater win!
