Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest: 68 in 10 Minutes
Joey Chestnut is Nathan's Famous Hot Dog "chompion" for sixth time.
July 4, 2012— -- Joey "Jaws" Chestnut won his sixth consecutive Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest today in Coney Island.
The San Jose, Calif., chompion downed 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes.
Chestnut, who won $10,000 and a mustard champion's belt, proved how unstoppable he is on the competitive eating circuit. Second place finisher Tim Janus scarfed down 52 of the hot dogs and buns.
"I tied my best without anyone really pushing me," Chestnut said. "I'm looking forward to next year already."
Chestnut and his former rival, Takeru Kobayashi, who left Major League Eating in 2010, are now tied with six wins a piece.
Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas, from Alexandria, Va., defended her title in the women's competition, eating 45 hot dogs, five more than she did last year.
The Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest has been a holiday tradition for 97 years.
The contest requires eaters to consume the entire hot dog and bun and any "reversal of fortune," Major League Eating's term for vomiting, results in an automatic disqualification.