Chestnut returning to Nathan's hot dog contest

Joey Chestnut, competitory eating legend, announced Monday that helium is returning to the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest aft a one-year hiatus from the yearly Fourth of July event.

Chestnut, the 16-time champion, missed past year's lawsuit owed to a quality with Major League Eating implicit his sponsorship woody with Impossible Foods, a institution that makes plant-based blistery dogs.

"I'm thrilled to beryllium returning to the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest," Chestnut wrote connected X. "This lawsuit means the satellite to me. It's a cherished tradition, a solemnisation of American culture, and a immense portion of my life."

I'm thrilled to beryllium returning to the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. This lawsuit means the satellite to me. It's a cherished tradition, a solemnisation of American culture, and a immense portion of my life. (1/3)

Chestnut added that helium continues to spouse with companies successful the "plant-based space," but those relationships ne'er conflicted with his "love for blistery dogs."

"I'm excited to beryllium backmost connected the Coney Island stage, doing what I unrecorded to do, and celebrating the Fourth of July with blistery dogs successful my hands!" helium wrote. "Stay hungry!"

Major League Eating president Richard Shea told ESPN successful an email that the contention is "extremely excited to invited Joey backmost to Coney Island this 4th of July for what volition surely beryllium the top Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest of each time."

Patrick Bertoletti downed 58 blistery dogs and buns successful 10 minutes to triumph past year's men's contest, portion Miki Sudo ate 51 blistery dogs and buns to seizure the women's title. Chestnut owns the contention grounds with 76 blistery dogs and buns successful 2021.

This year's lawsuit volition instrumentality spot July 4 astatine Coney Island successful New York and beryllium broadcast connected ESPN platforms.