It was a dramatic win for Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, who ate his way to glory, winning the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest the 15th time. The big win did not come easy, however, as he faced a disruption in the form of a spectator with a Darth Vader mask rushing the stage. Chestnut put him in a chokehold before the organisers intervened and escorted him away, news agency AP reported.


Chestnut downed 63 hot dogs and buns during the 10-minute competition at the Monday frank fest that also saw the record holder in women’s category making a victorious comeback. Miki Sudo from Tampa, Florida, who had skipped last year’s event due to her pregnancy, ate 40 sausages and buns to win the title, according to the AP report.


The annual hot dog fest saw disruption from spectators not once but twice. Apart from the person wearing the Darth Vader mask, there was one spectator with a white Stormtrooper mask too and he created obstruction by sneaking behind the competitors and hoisting a sign that said: “Expose Smithfield’s Deathstar”, the report said. 


Nathan’s hotdogs are manufactured by Smithfield.


No Records Broken This Time


The contest organised on the US Independence Day every year returned to its traditional location, which is outside Nathan’s outlet in Brooklyn’s Coney Island neighbourhood, after two years. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the event took place at different locations in 2020 and 2021.


“It’s beautiful to be back here,” Chestnut told ESPN after the event. 


The 38-year-old from Westfield, Indiana, was wearing a surgical boot because of a leg injury. Speaking of that, he said: “It hurts, but I was in the zone for a little bit. I was ignoring it.” 


It was, however, evident that the pain slowed him down as Chestnut had won last year’s title after eating 76 franks and buns, breaking his own previous record, the AP report said.


During her last outing in 2020, Sudo had also eaten more, setting the women’s record at 48 and a half sausages and buns. She skipped the 2021 fest as she and Nick Wehry, a fellow competitor she met at the Nathan’s contest in 2018, welcomed son Max on July 8, 2021.


The baby was present at the event, along with Wehry, and watched his mother win her eight Nathan’s title, the report said. 


As part of the annual spectacle, Nathan’s also donates 1 lakh franks to the Food Bank for New York City.