Joey Chestnut remains eliminated from Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest as contestants are announced

NEW YORK – Damn. We have some tough news to swallow for fans hoping for a last-minute breakthrough in the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest stalemate against Joey Chestnut.

Chestnut, the reigning Hot Dog World Champion, was excluded from this year’s competition because of its partnership with Impossible Foods, a rival company that makes plant-based hot dogs.

It was later announced that Chestnut and former champion Takeru Kobayashi will compete against each other in their own hot dog eating contest. in a live special airing on Netflix on Labor Day.

Some fans may have hoped that Major League Eating, which organizes Nathan’s July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest, might have worked out some sort of deal that would allow Chestnut to participate this year. But those hopes appear to have been dashed: The list of male contestants this year released Monday does not include Chestnut, who has since accepted an invitation to compete in a hot dog eating contest at Fort Bliss in Texas.

Participants from all over the world

The competition will take place Thursday at the famous Nathan’s flagship restaurant at Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island. Fifteen men and 14 women will compete for the top spot. The winners will receive a prize of $20,000. The women’s champion, Miki Sudo, will compete in this year’s competition to defend her title.

Nathan’s Famous says this year’s contest will attract contestants from the United States, Japan, Brazil, Australia, Korea, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom and Canada. Only one of this year’s contestants is from the Tri-State Area – Julie Goldberg of Astoria, Queens.

“The famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest is arguably the most iconic sporting event in American history,” said George Shea, chairman of Major League Eating. “Eaters from around the world come to Coney Island to celebrate this festival of freedom.”

The annual competition has been held at Nathan’s Famous since 1916.