Nathan s hot dog eating contest

Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 12:50 am

Nathan s hot dog eating contest wiener is Joey (Jaws) Chestnut!

The defending champ made it a three-peat Saturday at the 94th annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island after choking down a stomach-churning 68 franks in 10 minutes – a new world record.

The 25-year-old, 218-pound champ maintained a comfortable two-dog lead over his archrival, six-time titleholder Takeru (Tsunami) Kobayashi, for most of the bout. He’d already downed 23 dogs two minutes after the clock started.

He’ll take home $20,000 in prize money and the coveted Mustard Belt.

Last year’s contest ended in a tie with Chestnut, of San Jose, Calif., and Kobayashi, of Japan, both gobbling down 59 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.

A dramatic five-dog eat-off ensued with Chestnut emerging victorious.