Joey Chestnut has powered through to win his 15th title in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating contest — while also overcoming a protester who rushed the stage during the annual event.
The competition eater powered through 63 hot dogs in 10 minutes to clinch the Mustard Belt in New York City’s Coney Island on Monday, July 4.
This was Chestnut’s 16th competition, and his seventh consecutive win. But he fell short of his all-time record of 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes, which he set last year.
His nearest competitor, Geoffrey Esper, got through 47 1/2 hot dogs.
During the competition, a protester wearing a Darth Vader mask rushed the stage and stood next to Chestnut holding a sign. Chestnut, who was wearing a surgical boot due to a leg injury, actually seemed to help detain the man before security stepped in.
In the women’s contest, Miki Sudo won after eating 40 hot dogs.