Sean Maloney
Fans will once again be in attendance when this year’s edition of the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest takes place in Coney Island, New York. One of the most popular and offbeat events on the summertime events calendar, the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest is also steeped in history, dating back over 100 years. Typically held outside the flagship restaurant of the Nathan’s Famous chain, this year’s event is set to break with tradition, with the world’s most famous competitive eating competition set to be held at Maimonides Park, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones, a minor league affiliate of the New York Mets.
Not surprisingly, the biggest attraction in this year’s contest is once again expected to be the reigning king of competitive eating Joey Chestnut. An astonishing 13-time winner in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, Chestnut has also smashed the record for most hot dogs and buns eaten at this event on eight occasions and is pegged as a strong bet to once again set the pace this time around.
MyTopSportsbooks takes a look at how Chestnut stacks up against the competition when the eating begins on the Coney Island boardwalk on Independence Day. We also take a look at who to watch among the women competing at this year’s event. Sports bettors setting the table for their first competitive eating betting experience can learn all they need to know from our extensive reviews of sportsbooks.
| Hot Dogs Eaten by Joey Chestnut at 2021 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest |  |
| OVER 73.5 | -120 |
| UNDER 73.5 | -120 |
Chestnut a Legend in Competitive Eating Circles
While some may question whether competitive eating should be considered a major league sport, but regardless of what side of that argument you are on, there is no denying Joey Chestnut’s prowess in eating circles. A native of Indianapolis, Chestnut has been nearly unbeatable since bursting onto the competitive eating scene in 2007 and dethroning then-reigning champion Takeru Kobayashi.
Most championships/titles in a single event:
1. Joey Chestnut: 13 (Nathan’s Famous)
2. Rafael Nadal: 12 (French Open)
T3. Margaret Court: 11 (Australian Open)
T-3. Bill Russell: 11 (NBA title)
T-3. Henri Richard: 11 (Stanley Cup)🐐 status
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 4, 2020
Chestnut’s most recent record-setting performance came a year ago when he devoured a stomach-churning 75 hot dogs and buns in just 10 minutes. The 37-year-old has lifted the hardware at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contests in 13 of his 14 career appearances. This year he once again dominates at the sportsbooks, with a $20 bet on Chestnut consuming OVER 73.5 hot dogs and buns at BetOnline (1.83) returning $36.60.
The win was never in doubt, and Joey Chestnut breaks his own record with 75 🌭!!!!
— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) July 4, 2020
And in addition to crushing all comers every Fourth of July in Coney Island, he has also made his mark elsewhere, setting over 50 competitive eating world records while gorging on an array of tasty treats, ranging from Taco Bell tacos and Krystals burgers to Philly Cheesesteaks and Hostess Donettes.
Stonie, Esper Top Contenders
Considering the steady improvement that Chestnut has shown, both in eating technique and the sheer volume of food consumed at each sitting, there are few contenders currently on the Major League Eating circuit that are likely to pose a formidable challenge. Chief among the contenders is the only man to ever defeat Chestnut at this event, Matt Stonie. A holder of 13 competitive eating world records, Stonie recently made headlines with an epic record-setting chow down on 28.5 24oz servings of popcorn at this year’s World Popcorn Eating World Championship. However, the 29-year-old native of San Jose, California is most famous for outpacing Chestnut at the 2016 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, where he edged out the champion with a narrow victory while choking down 62 hot dogs and buns.
Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs Champion
2001～2006
TAKERU KOBAYASHI2007～2014
JOEY CHESTNUT2015
MATT STONIE2016～
JOEY CHESTNUT新井さんの後のチャンピオン３名のサインを所持してるって本当に幸せです。全てトレードにて。ありがとうございました！♪ pic.twitter.com/Ed6Do9OLiC
— *KIMOWOTA * (@xKIMOWOTAx) August 17, 2018
Characterized as a quiet man, which is not surprising considering how much time he spends on the competitive eating circuit, Geoffrey Esper looks to this year’s event trailing only Chestnut at No. 2 on the Major League Eating world rankings. Esper has finished among the top five in each of his past four appearances at the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, and set a world record by consuming 281 chicken wings in 10 minutes at the 2019 Hooters World Wing Eating Championship
Sudo Remains the Woman to Beat
On the ladies’ side of this competition, it is once again expected to boil down to a two-way race. Miki Sudo is likely to enter this year’s Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest as a heavy favorite after claiming the title in each of the past seven years. Currently pegged at No. 5 overall and first among female competitors on the Major League Eating world rankings, Sudo smashed the women’s record previously set by the legendary Sonya Thomas, scarfing down 48.5 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes at last year’s event.
Miki Sudo finishes 48.5 hotdogs and buns in 10 minutes at the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest.
That’s a new women’s record.
It’s also her 7th Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest title, extending her record for most ever by a woman. pic.twitter.com/84gt4IIb1K
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 4, 2020
Sudo’s greatest rival is likely to be eighth-ranked Michelle Lasco. Major League Eating’s Humanitarian of the Year finished second in each of her past three appearances in Coney Island but will have to dramatically improve on her personal best of 32 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes if she is to threaten Sudo’s lengthy reign.
See below the top sportsbooks that offer odds on Nathan’s Famous hot-dog contest.
