Patrick Bertoletti wins Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

So much for the old chestnut.

A new winner was crowned Thursday at the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest – the annual Fourth of July competition given new momentum by the absence of longtime champion Joey Chestnut amid a controversy over vegan hot dogs.

Patrick Bertoletti, 39, of Chicago, won the Mustard Belt after devouring 58 hot dogs and buns in a 10-minute head-to-head race at Coney Island that saw the leader sway back and forth.

It is the first time since 2015 that a man not named Chestnut has won the competition, and only the second time in the last 17 years.

“I didn’t want to stop eating until the work was done,” Bertoletti said after winning his first ever victory.

“When I was ahead at the beginning, I knew the guys would catch me, but I also knew I couldn’t slow down.”

He managed to eat more sausages than 49-year-old Geoffrey Esper from Massachusetts, who came second with 53 sausages. 35-year-old Australian James Webb came third with 52 sausages.

Previously, reigning champion Miki Sudo had put the men through their paces after securing the women’s title with a world record of 51 dogs in 10 minutes.

“Turning 50 is a milestone for all women and I’m so excited to be a part of it,” she told The Post exclusively after winning her 10th pink belt.

While Bertoletti was able to beat his previous record of 55 hot dogs, he was far from the record-breaking 76 sausages that Chestnut managed in 2021.

Chestnut, better known as Jaws, was dramatically eliminated from this year’s beef eating contest after striking a deal with rival brand Impossible Foods, known for its meatless Impossible Burger.

Major League Eating, which Nathan hired to host the event, said Chestnut was aware of the hot dog exclusivity rules since he has been wolfing down record-breaking sausages for nearly two decades.

“Joey was not banned. Joey chose not to compete when he decided to enter into an endorsement deal with one of Nathan’s competitors,” a spokesperson said after The Post broke news of the controversy.

After holding out hope he would be allowed to compete, a “devastated” Chestnut said he would instead take his hot dog-eating talent to Fort Bliss Army Base in El Paso, Texas, to compete against soldiers on Independence Day.

Last year, Chestnut won the Coney Island contest by eating 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes.