Legendary Joey Chestnut wins 18th Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest by downing 66 wieners and buns

Joey Chestnut returned to the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest with a vengeance after a temporary ban in 2024, eating 70 dogs and buns in the competition.

The legend of Joey Chestnut continues.

Chestnut is now an 18-time Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest champion after blowing out the competition once again, this time by downing 66 hot dogs and buns in Coney Island.

It was the 10th consecutive time Chestnut has won the annual Fourth of July competition; he was barred from the 2024 event due to sponsorship issues.

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Joey Chestnut, left, consumes hot dogs during the 2026 Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island in Brooklyn, N.Y., Saturday. (AP Photo/Anna Connors)

Chestnut did not run away with it early on and was neck and neck with 2024 champ Patrick Bertoletti and James Webb through the first 90 seconds.

But once that time passed, Chestnut began to run away from the competition. Through three minutes, Chestnut was at 28, while Webb was at 22 and Bertoletti at 21. But at the halfway mark, Chestnut had eaten 42 hot dogs and had a 10-wiener lead.

Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo, winners of the 2026 Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, hold their title belts at Coney Island in Brooklyn, N.Y., Saturday. (AP Photo/Anna Connors)

JOEY CHESTNUT REVEALS FOODS HE WON'T EAT IN COMPETITION AS HE TOURS MINOR LEAGUE STADIUMS FOR LOCAL DELICACIES

Chestnut remained at a record pace (76) with four minutes to go, but like all eating contests, fatigue and full stomachs set in to go along with near-triple-digit heat. Chestnut hit the 60 mark with 60 seconds to go, and officials counted his 66 afterward.

He admitted he knew he would not get the record