Outsider Patrick Bertoletti wins Nathan’s famous hot dog eating contest by eating 58 hot dogs in 10 minutes

Eight-time reigning Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest champion Joey Chestnut was unable to attend the event this year because a contract with Impossible Foods. Fans of men and women who can stuff disgusting amounts of food into their bellies were no doubt shocked by Chestnut’s inability to defend his championship belt, but it also opened up an opportunity for other professional eaters to make history.

That’s what Patrick Bertoletti did at the annual Fourth of July contest. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t start competing until 2007 – right at the start of Chestnut’s run, where he lost only the hot dog eating contest. once (in 2015). Bertoletti took several second and third places during this period before retiring for the first time in 2015. After a ten-year break, he took fifth place at the 2022 competition.

The Chicago native skipped the last edition, but this time he jumped back into the race and won with a total of 58 hot dogs and buns, which were presumably counted after the final whistle.

I’ve seen odds as high as 10:1 for Bertoletti in some places, but +750 is still a great ROI for any bettor who took part.

Bertoletti must have had to get back in shape, as he only managed 33.5 hot dogs and buns in his first appearance at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest two years ago. It’s a damn good time to be competing without Chestnut in the field. Chestnut’s personal best is 76, and he’s won the last two times with totals of 63 and 62, respectively.

This guy is a guy you really can’t mess with. Without wanting to take away from Bertoletti’s achievements. At some point Chestnut had to make room for his colleagues one way or another, right? I can only imagine what Chestnut’s insides look like given all the sausages and other unhealthy foods he has consumed in rapid fire over the years.

What a statement from this guy, by the way, who cited Bertoletti’s recent track record as proof that he could beat the rest of the field.

The only nickname I’ve seen for Bertoletti is “deep dish.” An obvious nod to his roots in the Windy City. That in and of itself is a built-in advantage. If you grow up in Chicago with ambitions as a professional eater, you can get plenty of practice on deep-dish pizza. The stuff is no joke. I bet Bertoletti had plenty of it when he came out of retirement to prepare to take the glory on Independence Day.

Nice to see some fresh blood in the hot dog eating contest, even if Bertoletti came under fire for sloppy eating after his win. He has come a long way since returning in 2022.