As it stands, Joey Chestnut is not permitted to compete in the 2024 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.
The 16-time winner of the event recently signed a brand partnership with Impossible Foods, a rival of Nathan’s. Major League Eating ruled he may not compete due to that deal.
While attending Thursday’s Indiana Fever-Atlanta Dream WNBA contest, Chestnut said he had “no regrets,” saying it was “unfortunate” how “contract negotiations became public.”
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Competitive eater Joey Chestnut poses with his mustard yellow championship belt during a game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Ball State Cardinals at Sanford Stadium Sept. 9, 2023, in Athens, Ga. (Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images)
Chestnut is hoping the two sides can come to an agreement so he can compete in Coney Island on the Fourth of July.
“I’m very hopeful that things can be worked out. I’ll be ready if we can get anything worked out. I’ll be hungry,” Chestnut said.
In the meantime, it was announced Chestnut will face Takeru Kobayashi, who was the king of the sport before Chestnut captured the crown, in a Netflix-streamed event Sept. 2.
“I’m really excited about the Netflix contest. Me and Kobayashi. He’s been my biggest rival forever. I’m just really excited to be able to eat against him again,” Chestnut said.
Former champion Takeru Kobayashi, right, and reigning champion Joey Chestnut at the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest official weigh-in ceremony July 2, 2009, in New York City. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Although Chestnut is best known for his performance with the wieners, his website says he travels 200 days out of the year competing. So, he holds numerous other records, including his 32 Bic Macs in 38 minutes, 44 Raising Cane’s chicken fingers in five minutes and 61½ four-ounce pork roll sandwiches in 10 minutes.
Chestnut took down a protester at the 2022 event via chokehold, which didn’t faze him one bit. He still downed 63 dogs and buns.
Chestnut’s 76 dogs and buns from the 2021 contest also remain a world record.
Joey Chestnut, left, of San Jose, Calif., holds up the American flag and his champion belt after defeating Takeru Kobayashi of Nagano, Japan, and Patrick “Deep Dish” Bertoletti in the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest July 4, 2009, in Coney Island. (Yana Paskova/Getty Images)
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The 40-year-old, widely regarded as the GOAT in his sport, has won the contest every year but one since 2007. He was upset by Matt Stonie in the 2015 competition but has since rattled off eight straight victories.
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