Hot Dog Heavyweight: Chestnut Wins Again

July 4, 2008 — -- NEW YORK (AP) -- Joey Chestnut has reclaimed the top spot as winner of the annual hot dog eating contest in Coney Island after first tying with archrival Takeru Kobayashi in a 10-minute chow-down and then beating him in a five-dog eat-off.

The men tied at 59 frankfurters in 10 minutes, before being made to gobble another five dogs in a last-minute tiebreaker.

Kobayashi had hoped to reclaim the throne after suffering a disappointing loss last year. He had reigned for six years.

Thousands gathered at Coney Island on the Fourth of July to watch the glutinous gladiators compete in the annual event. Chestnut emerged victorious, beating 20 others who had only 10 minutes to chow as many hot dogs as possible, two minutes less than in previous years.