Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Overtime Hot Dog Showdown at Coney Island Delivers Another Victory for Joey Chestnut
By
Billy Parker
Published Jul 5, 2008
Modified Jul 2, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Gothamist
View all 18
By
Billy Parker
Published Jul 5, 2008
Modified Jul 2, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Yesterday's Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest had a lot to live up to after last year's heavily-hyped and record-breaking victory that saw Joey Chestnut bring the Mustard Belt back to America by snapping the six-year victory streak of legend Takeru Kobayashi. How did they manage to top it? Overtime!
After the two giants of competitive eating ended regulation in a dead heat at 59 franks a piece, Nathan's officials scrambled and decided to hold a sudden death overtime. There Joey Chestnut eked out a successful defense of his belt by being the first to finish five more dogs. Chestnut told reporters, "I don't know how I did it. This is amazing. I dug down deep inside and just found a way to pull it out."
Kobayashi, who promised to be back next year, never even considered the possibility of overtime, "I was only thinking about the 10-minute regulation. I never prepared for an overtime. It never entered my mind. If I had only put one more mouthful of bun, I would have won." But George Shea, the funnyman MC and chairman of Major League Eating, summed up the dramatic victory afterwards, "Without any question, the Chestnut era has begun." (Check out our live blogging coverage from yesterday here.)
Tagged
brooklyn
coney island
heartburn
hot dog
hot dog eating contest
joey chestnut
july 4th
nathan's famous
Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest
takeru kobayashi
Billy Parker
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Need help with mental health or addiction services? NYC has a new tool.
In surveys, many who say they want want help state they don't know where to start.
By
Caroline Lewis
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 6:30 a.m. ET
NYC sues personal injury law firm accused of bogus trip-and-fall claims
City attorneys allege the firm said its clients were injured by defective city streets or sidewalks when in reality they were hit by cars or banged up in fights.
By
Walter Wuthmann
News
NYC sues personal injury law firm accused of bogus trip-and-fall claims
City attorneys allege the firm said its clients were injured by defective city streets or sidewalks when in reality they were hit by cars or banged up in fights.
By
Walter Wuthmann
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
By
Catalina Gonella
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
By
Giulia Heyward
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
By
Gino Fanelli
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .