The annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest is synonymous with the Fourth of July. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the event is still going to be held, but it's going to look a little bit different this year. Instead of holding the annual competition at the Coney Island boardwalk in Brooklyn, the contest will take place at a private indoor location nearby.
Joey Chestnut, who has won the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest on 12 occasions, told TMZ Sports recently that he's looking to breaking his own world record with the conditions being a little more favorable.
"There's a little bit of a bonus 'cause we're gonna be eating in air conditioning and they're less eaters, so they're making less hot dogs so they might taste better," Chestnut said. "There's a good chance that we might have better conditions for a world record and I'ma be pushing for it."
The competitive eating legend's current record is 74 hot dogs, which he set in 2018. Chestnut has won the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest all but one year since 2007 and topped the 70-hot dog mark in each of the past four contests.
Since 1972, the majority of the contests have been held at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues, where the original Nathan's location stands. The 2020 edition will be the 104th installment of the popular eating competition.
Chestnut has a point. Sweat won't be pouring down his face like it normally is outside during the contest, so maybe he'll be a tad more comfortable inside the air conditioning.
