Joey Chestnut's hot dog dominance by the numbers
Key takeaways
- Major League Eating's official website sums it up bluntly: "Joey Chestnut is the greatest eater in history.
- Chestnut -- who has won every edition of the competition he has competed in since 2015 -- is, in short, the foremost frankfurter eater of all time.
- As he goes for his 18th Mustard Belt on Saturday (noon ET on ESPN2), he is an overwhelming favorite.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Competing under probation after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge, the 17-time champion is on Coney Island for the July Fourth holiday to recapture the Mustard Belt in the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.
Unfamiliar with Chestnut's résumé? Major League Eating's official website sums it up bluntly: "Joey Chestnut is the greatest eater in history. That is not empty editorializing or bloviating. That is empirical fact. Members of the media and members of the scientific community are warmly invited to conduct their own independent analysis; MLE is confident that you will come to the same conclusions."
ESPN accepted this challenge. We found it difficult to refute. Chestnut -- who has won every edition of the competition he has competed in since 2015 -- is, in short, the foremost frankfurter eater of all time.