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While Joey Chestnut won’t be competing in Coney Island on the 4th of July this year, the decorated hotdog eater will still be participating in his sport.
Chestnut was recently sidelined for the annual Nathan’s hotdog eating contest this year due to a sponsorship conflict.
However, Jaws will not be getting rusty this Independence Day as he heads out to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas to compete in a 5-minute hotdog eating contest against US soldiers.
In a phone interview with the Associated Press, Chestnut said he is not going to sit at home and do nothing. He also revealed his fear of being ‘lazy’ in competition with amateurs.
‘If they (each) break ten, that’d be pretty good,’ Chestnut said on Thursday as he fasted on water, lemon juice and liquified calories as part of his pre-competition routine.
Joey Chestnut revealed his plans for the 4th of July after getting sidelined from Nathan’s
Chestnut will be competing against US Army Soldiers at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas
Chestnut has squared off against the world’s top competitive eaters at Nathan’s since 2005 and hadn’t lost since 2015. In 2021, the Indiana native set the current record of 76 hot dogs, in 10 minutes.
Unfortunately a partnership with a rivaling hotdog brand led to Chestnut’s absence from the event that has become synonymous to him.
Chestnut’s deal with vegetarian frank manufacturer Impossible Foods will preclude him from winning a record 17th title on Coney Island. The issue, organizers told the New York Post, is Chestnut’s demand to endorse the rival hot dog.
Having been part of the festivities for nearly two decades, Chestnut admitted that he will miss the atmosphere in Brooklyn this year.
‘Those people have been sitting in the sun, waiting,’ Chestnut said. ‘They know what to expect. And they’re not shocked. They’re cheering and yelling and pushing me.’
Chestnut will skip the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Competition due to a sponsorship conflict
Nevertheless, Chestnut will be in Texas, competing in front of 15,000 people during the ‘Pop Goes the Fort’ celebrations. According to Fort Bliss Morale Welfare and Recreation organization spokesperson Marlo Brestar, the event will include fireworks and performances by the El Paso Symphony Orchestra and the 1st Armored Division Band.
Chestnut also told AP that he will do a practice run on Friday and ingest oils to ‘make sure there’s a clean highway, there won’t be any traffic jams’ in his digestive system before heading to the home of the 1st Armored Division.
‘Maybe I’ll get to get on a tank,’ he said about his first trip to El Paso.
Chestnut will also compete on Netflix against rival Takeru Kobayashi in September.
Chestnut won his 16th Nathan’s hot dog contest last year on July 4 in Coney Island
Chestnut is welcome to return to the annual contest when his conflicting sponsorship ends
However, he remains hopeful that he can get back to competing on July 4th next year, either with Netflix or at the Nathan’s Famous contest. For him to re-enter the Coney Island event though, he’d need to make up with the event organizers, Major League Eating.
‘I feel bullied,’ Chestnut shared. ‘If I’m ever going to work with them again, they’re going to have to apologize,’ Chestnut said.
According to a statement from spokesman George Shea, Major League Eating said it eventually conceded the sponsorship issue.
‘Unfortunately, this was not enough to get us to an agreement,’ the statement said. ‘We think this is a powerful tribute to our armed forces and we wish Joey the best of luck at his event.’
