Joey “Jaws” Chestnut reclaimed the men’s Mustard Belt at Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, wolfing down 70.5 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes on Coney Island. The 41-year-old Californian-turned-Hoosier secured his 17th title—his seventh performance above the 70-dog mark—after missing the 2024 event over a sponsorship dispute. Chestnut outpaced 14 rivals, including 2024 champion Patrick Bertoletti, who finished with 46.5 hot dogs, and Australia’s James Webb, who logged 45.5. While the margin underscored Chestnut’s dominance, he fell short of his own 2021 contest record of 76. The victory came with roughly US$10,000 in prize money and pushed his lifetime contest total to more than 1,280 hot dogs consumed. In the women’s competition earlier in the day, Tampa-based Miki Sudo earned her 11th pink belt by eating 33 hot dogs, comfortably ahead of Michelle Lesco’s 22.75 and Domenica Dee’s 21.5. Sudo, 39, remained undefeated in the event since 2014, though she was well below the women’s record of 51 she set last year. This year’s contest featured 28 eaters from the United States, Canada, Brazil, England, the Czech Republic and Australia. Organisers estimate the spectacle drew about 40,000 spectators to Surf and Stillwell avenues and was watched by millions on ESPN, maintaining a tradition that dates back to 1916 and now distributes about US$20,000 in total prize money.