Joey Chestnut Opens Up About Returning to Hot Dog Eating Contest After Temporary Ban

Two years ago, the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest was unusual in that it was missing the greatest competitive eater of all time.

Joey Chestnut, 16-time winner of the event, was not eligible to participate in 2024 after signing a deal with Nathan’s rival Impossible Foods. Chestnut was still on the sidelines a few months before the 2025 competition when he announced that he and organizers had found common ground on sponsorships.

That brought Chestnut, now a 17-time winner after regaining the belt last year, back to Coney Island.

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“It’s been awesome. The crowd is awesome, it’s electric. It’s good to be back after mending some fences,” Chestnut recently told PK Press Club Digital. “I do what I love. I got the best job in the world. I get to eat, travel, beat people and meet happy people. So it was great to be back.”

Chestnut’s return to the big stage was grandiose. Credit goes to Patrick Bertoletti, who downed 58 dogs and buns in Chestnut’s absence to win the title two years ago. But Chestnut hasn’t posted such a “low” number since 2010. And while Coney Island Nathan’s still had a decent crowd, it doesn’t compare to when Chestnut is on stage.

However, for the greatest of all time, it was never about a comeback – it was simply about winning and celebrating Independence Day.

“It’s never about me. It’s not even about the hot dogs. It’s the Fourth of July. It’s an eating contest, but really, it’s a Fourth of July celebration, it’s a New York celebration. And this contest, it’s hard to describe exactly,” Chestnut said.

Joey Chestnut prepares to compete in the men’s competition at Nathan’s annual hot dog eating contest in New York on July 4, 2025. He returns to compete for a 17th victory after missing the 2024 event due to a sponsorship dispute with Major League Eating. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)

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“It’s an event, it’s more than just an eating competition. It’s part of the 4th of July celebration in New York, and I’m just a very small part of it. And when it comes to this celebration, I’m very happy that I was able to come back and be a part of the 4th of July party.”

Chestnut won his first title in 2007, knocking out the dynastic eater that was Takeru Kobayashi. Since then, he has won 17 of the last 18 events he has competed in. Matt Stonie pulled off the surprise in 2015.

Upon his return to Coney Island, Chestnut devoured 70 hot dogs, an improvement from the 62 he ate in 2023, so there are clearly no signs of slowing down. But Chestnut knows time is running out and he wants to make the most of it.

“When I was younger, I could gain weight and then lose it very quickly. Now it’s a lot more work, but I still love it. And I know my body,” Chestnut said. “But as long as I’m competitive, as long as everything’s good and I’m healthy. I’m going to get involved. I was just talking to a guy who, he’s 58 years old and he’s been doing this since I started. And so he’s still able to do it. I’m like, ‘All right, I can do it.’ I still have a few years left and we’ll see.”

Joey Chestnut wins the men’s competition at the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York on July 4, 2025. He returned to compete for a 17th victory after missing the 2024 event due to a sponsorship dispute with Major League Eating. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)

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“It really, I really feel like it’s one of the best gigs ever. I get to travel and eat and, man, it’s the funniest thing,” Chestnut said. “After I eat, I’m all sweaty, greasy, dirty, and then people want to take pictures with me. It’s the funniest thing in the world.”

“As long as I can, I’ll do it.”