Joey Chestnut's hot dog dominance by the numbers - ESPN

The GOAT has returned.

The GOAT of competitive eating, that is: Joey Chestnut. After a one-year hiatus from the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest because of a sponsorship dispute, the 16-time champion is back on Coney Island to recapture the Mustard Belt.

Unfamiliar with Chestnut's résumé? Major League Eating's official website sums it up bluntly: «Joey Chestnut is the greatest eater in history. That is not empty editorializing or bloviating. That is empirical fact. Members of the media and members of the scientific community are warmly invited to conduct their own independent analysis; MLE is confident that you will come to the same conclusions.»

ESPN accepted this challenge to the media into MLE's claim. We found it difficult to refute. Chestnut — who has won every edition of the competition he has competed in since 2015 — is, in short, the foremost frankfurter eater ever.

As he goes for his 17th Mustard Belt on Friday (noon ET on ESPN2), he is an overwhelming favorite, listed at -1,600 according to ESPN BET odds. Here's a look at some of the numbers behind Chestnut's run of dominance:

The 10 highest totals in the event belong to Chestnut, and his 76 hot dogs eaten in 2021 is the record. Chestnut has eaten more than 70 dogs — buns included — six times. But he doesn't just devour hot dogs: He has the Major League Eating record in over 50 different categories, including chicken wings (182 in 30 minutes), hard-boiled eggs (141 in 8 minutes), grilled cheese sandwiches (47 in 10 minutes) and Twinkies (121 in 6 minutes). He most recently added a world record in the discipline of bologna slices to his résumé, consuming 15.75 pounds in eight minutes.

1,214: Since 2005, Chestnut has eaten 1,214 hot dogs and buns in the