How could we celebrate Independence Day without one of the day's greatest traditions - the 96th annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest? Here's everything you need to know about the contest, including start time and TV information.
Event: 96th annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.
Date/Time: Monday, July 4, 2011 - 12:00 p.m. EDT.
Broadcast Information: The 2011 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest will be broadcast on ESPN. There will also be a women's hot dog eating contest that begins at 11:25 a.m. EDT and will be carried live on ESPN3.com.
Participants:
Joey Chestnut, defending champion.
Las Vegas, NV
Sean Gordon (30)
Stephanie Torres (23)Newnan, GA
Gravy Brown (28.75)
Larell Marie Mele (13)Foxboro, MA
Pete Davekos (25)
Lauren Gallagher (3)Atlantic City, NJ
Sonya Thomas (34)
Pat Philbin (27)Cleveland, OH
Pat Bertoletti (38)
Jamie Park (7)Queens, NY
Tim Janus (45)
Laura Leu (7)Pittsburgh, PA
Aaron Osthoff (28)
Juliet Lee (28)Tempe, AZ
Erik Denmark (29)
Michelle Lesco (21.5)Thackerville, OK
Adrian Morgan (23)
Katrina Klein (5)Hawthorne, CA
Damon Wells (26.5)
Christine Kitchenmaster (8.5)
Contest Rules (via SB Nation DC):
The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest rules are simple: contestants must eat as many hot dogs and buns as possible in 10 minutes. Prize money has been awarded since 2007, with the winner earning $10,000 for gustatory greatness.