Joey Chestnut wins 18th title at Nathan's hot dog eating contest, downing 66 in 10 minutes

Joey Chestnut, America's most celebrated competitive eater, claimed his 18th career title at the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.

On Saturday, Chestnut devoured 66 hot dogs in 10 minutes at the contest held on Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. The event, staged to mark the United States' 250th Independence Day, drew 13 competitors from around the world, including South Korea and the Czech Republic.

Chestnut was locked in a tight three-way battle with 2024 champion Patrick Bertoletti and James Webb for the first 90 seconds. By the three-minute mark he had pulled ahead with 28 hot dogs, leaving Webb at 22 and Bertoletti at 21, and by the halfway point he had stretched his lead to 10, reaching 42.

With four minutes remaining, he was on pace for 76 — a potential contest record — but slowed as fatigue, fullness and scorching heat took their toll. He passed 60 with a minute to go and finished at 66.

"I knew I could win, and I still had room to eat more," Chestnut told Fox News and CBS News after the contest.

The hot dog eating contest is one of America's signature Independence Day traditions, alongside fireworks displays.

Chestnut set the official contest record in 2021 by eating 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes. He also holds an unofficial personal best of 83, set during a separate special exhibition event in 2024.

In the women's division, Miki Sudo won with 39 hot dogs. Sudo has now taken first place in all 12 contests she has entered since her debut in 2014.