Joey “Jaws” Chestnut consumed 62 hot dogs to claim the Mustard Belt and his fifth straight victory in the 2011 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York on Independence Day.
“Tastes pretty good,” said Chestnut after his victory. “I came out here to win, did what I had to do. I feel great.”
Chestnut and Chicago-native Patrick “Deep Dish” Bertoletti finished second with 53 hot dogs and Tim Janus finished third with 45.
The conditions were hot and humid, but that didn’t bother Chestnut at all.
“The weather didn’t effect me that much,”he said. “I didnt start out as fast as I wanted.”
Bertoletti stayed within striking distance of Chestnut, who started out on a record pace with 10 hot dogs in the first minute, but faded. Chestnut still had a shot at breaking his own record, but fell short in the end.
“I’m always looking for a record,” said Chestnut, who set the world record by eating 68 hot dogs in the contest in 2009.